A Tough Day For Two Tough Nine Year Olds

 
Today was a beautiful, warm and breezy, day at Monmouth Park. The track was the last stop in my 10 year son’s birthday celebration which included gymnastics, delicious burgers at Bobby Flay’s Burger Palace, and water fun at the nearby Sprayground. We arrived at the track in time for today’s John J. Reilly Handicap.  I could not miss seeing this showdown for the best New Jersey-breds.

Between Joey P. (left) and Who’s the Cowboy, they have earned $2,000, 000 and won 35 races.  But today the two nine year olds had a tough day.  Joey P., always a fan favorite, was bet down to 2.90 to 1. In the field of 11, he finished last after racing in 4^th position most of the way. Who’s the Cowboy was never really in contention and ended up running ninth.

The very popular low take out 50¢ Pick 5 paid a surprisingly large $622.35 considering the price of the winners.  That was great value for five horses that paid: $4.80, $6.40, $5.80, $10.80, and $3.00.  Those payoffs came in relatively small fields of 8, 7, 10, 8, and 5.  The Pick 5 is a wager well worth considering when you are betting Monmouth.

ABC’s of the Monmouth Hall of Champions - Today Bold Ruler: Bold Ruler is probably best known as the sire of the immortal Triple Crown winner Secretariat. Bold Ruler raced 33 times with 23-4-2 results and earnings of $764,204.  In his penultimate start he carried 134 lbs. for a mile and a quarter to win the 1958 Monmouth Handicap. Bold Ruler ranks 122 on the Horse Racing Nation list of the Top 250 Thoroughbreds of All-Time with an 8.96/10 rating.