Bustin Out must avoid duel in Regret

Over the years, Bustin Out has beaten four of the five fillies and mares who will line up against her in the $60,000 Regret Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday. The opponent she has yet to face, Disco Chick, could be her biggest obstacle in the six-furlong sprint.

Bustin Out, a New Jerseybred 5-year-old trained by Chuck Spina, has been amazingly consistent since making her debut in 2014. In 16 starts – all at Monmouth – the daughter of Bustin Stones has won five times and finished worse than third only once. She has earned $302,000.

Bustin Out is fast, which actually could be a problem Sunday because Disco Chick also has blazing speed. Disco Chick is one of two runners in the field who were formerly trained by Mario Serey Jr., who is serving a 120-day suspension for a string of clenbuterol positives in November and December.

Disco Chick didn’t run well in her first start for trainer Miguel Penaloza, backing up to 11th in the Satin N Lace Stakes over the Tapeta surface at Presque Isle Downs. She should bounce back with a more representative performance over the Monmouth track.

True Romance, Court Dancer, and Rowd E Allie also have good early speed, leaving She’s Hot Wired as the possible lone closer in the race.

She’s Hot Wired, who formerly raced for Serey, is now trained by Anthony Margotta Jr., who was 6 for 21 at the meet coming into Friday’s card.

KEY CONTENDERS

Bustin Out, by Bustin Stones

Last 3 Beyers: 86-87-85

◗ This will be her first start since May 28, when she defeated fellow Regret entrant Court Dancer by a neck in an opencompany, third-level optionalclaiming sprint.

◗ Spina is having a good meet and had won with seven of his 33 starters through Thursday.

True Romance, by Yes It’s True

Last 3 Beyers: 82-79-81

◗ She beat She’s All Ready by a half-length in a second-level optional claimer on June 17. She’s All Ready came back to win a similar race last Sunday.

◗ The worry with her is that she has eight seconds but only three wins in 21 starts.

◗ Trainer Tim Hills is nearing a career milestone and had 993 wins as of Friday morning.

Disco Chick, by Jump Start

Last 3 Beyers: 69-59-69

◗ She isn’t as sharp as she was in 2016, when she won three straight stakes, but her early foot always makes her dangerous. She enters off a bullet workout at her home base of Parx.

She’s Hot Wired, by Cable Boy

Last 3 Beyers: 69-73-60

◗ She closed to defeat Bustin Out by a nose in the New Jerseybred Open Mind at Monmouth in 2016.