Summer 2013

Sunday June 9

BINGO!

I had read late this past week that the feature race at Monmouth Park on Sunday was the $200K Monmouth Stakes and the likely favorite was one of my favorite horses, Boisterous.  I had in fact made Boisterous my top choice in the Grade 1 Arlington Million last summer.  I looked at the entries online and he appeared to lay over the field.  I wanted to make him a prime play, but after the disappointments of Saturday - except on my "BET of the Day," I was reluctant to make the bet.  I watched the DRF "Race of the Day" video and both Mike Beer and Dan Illman, who nearly NEVER support the favorite both said that Boisterous was simply too good for these.  I decided that, like yesterday with Point of Entry - and ironically Boisterous came from the same connections:  Owners:  The Phipps Family, Trainer:  Shug McGaughey, jockey:  John Velazquez - he simply was "the horse."  If I'd been on track I probably would have gone the full $50 on him, but I pretty reluctant to bet that kind of bet online.  Don't really know why, just feel more comfortable making a "big" bet with real money to a real clerk.  So I went with a more-than-prime-time $30 to win.  Post time was scheduled for 5:28 pm, just when I'd be out to dinner with Kim and her identical twin hottie sister Karrie at one of our favorite spots, Tropical Acres.  So, I knew I'd have to wait for the replay.  We had a great time and when we got home I sat down at the computer to watch the replay.  I was hopeful that Boisterous would go off at a similar 1/2 or 3/5 like Point of Entry but had little confidence he actually would. Wonder of wonders the crowd let him go off at a very generous 1/1.........

 

The race was much, MUCH the same as Point of Entry as he made his move on the turn and won, but without dominating the race.  The even-money odds meant I cashed for $60 and with two big wins to close the weekend I felt a lot better about my handicapping heading into our big summer adventure next weekend when we will be with seventeen others at Churchill Downs for "Downs After Dark" on Stephen Foster night.  Very much looking forward to the entire evening, the racing and in particular seeing one of my very favorites, Royal Delta defend her title in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Stakes.