Big Brown doesn't disappoint at Monmouth
BY DOUG McKENZIE Correspondent
      This time, Big Brown delivered. In his first race since a disastrous performance at the Belmont Stakes, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness-winning Big Brown used a late charge to catch upsetminded Coal Play in the final furlong to win the $1 million Haskell Invitational presented by Vonage (G1) by nearly two lengths on Sunday at Monmouth Park.
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They're off and running
     Top: The horses blast out of the gate in the 2008 $1,000,000 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport on Aug. 3. Above: More than 45,000 fans were on hand at the day's event to cheer on the jockeys and horses at the track.
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Benefit hockey game slated for this weekend
      The 11th annual Jim Dowd's Shoot for the Stars Foundation benefit game will be held at the Red Bank Armory on Sunday. Faceoff is at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door. Proceeds go to the Marks Family Fundraiser, a Spring Lake Heights family with mother Susan and six children who suffered a tragic loss when husband and dad Randy Marks passed away last year.
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A day at the races
     CHRIS KELLY staff Above: Jockey Kent Desormeaux and Big Brown (right) lead the early action in the 2008 $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport on Aug. 3. Below: Desormeaux holds the winner's trophy from the race. Earlier in the year, Desormeaux led the horse to victories at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before falling short at the Belmont Stakes in New York. More than 45,000 fans turned out for the day's 14 races. The prize horse finished the race in 1:48 1/5 and paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10 as a huge favorite. Coal Play, with odds of 20-1, placed in the runner-up spot, paying $8 to place and $4.20 to show. Cool Coal Man paid $2.80 to show. The Haskell Invitational brought in a record $4,257,409.
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Legion All-Star game highlights top talent
Saturday at BlueClaws stadium, it's Monmouth vs. Ocean
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
      There's a special bonus for those who will be playing in Saturday's American Legion Monmouth- Ocean County All-Star game. Prior to the 3 p.m. start at the Lakewood Blue- Claws stadium, FirstEnergy Park, they will participate in a College Showcase that will be attended by professional scouts and college coaches.
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Asbury Park 5K scheduled for Saturday morning
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer
      The fifth annual Asbury Park 5K road race will take place Saturday. Race director Phil Hinck is expecting 1,000 or so runners to compete in the event, which begins at 8:30 a.m. A year ago, 868 people, many from Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties, participated.
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