July 4

Happy Birthday America!

Opening Of Monmouth Handicapping Project

Today was the official start of my Monmouth Park Handicapping Project, the highlight of which will be to go to Monmouth on July 27 for their signature event, the Haskell Invitational where I am hoping I'll get to see Untapable live and in person take on the boys!  I had played Monmouth on the weekends when I have gone to the track since they opened on May 30th, and have used the Monmouth Park Handicapper to make my selections there, so my numbers will reflect that.  Today's eleven race card found me with seven selections, but it was narrowed by two when two selections scratched.  In the very first pick of the project I had Lucky Rascal in a maiden claiming sprint.  Ridden by top local jockey Paco Lopez and trained by the leading trainer from the last two summers Eddie Plesa, Lucky Rascal was the lone dropper out of Maiden Special company.  He went right to the front and wired the field.  The finish saw him coasting under a hand ride in what has become an all too familiar site with Lopez on board. 

The 9/5 price was more than fair all things considered.  In the third my pick was Gold Potion, a Monmouth 40% Club pick.  But she was very wide into the first turn then stopped and pulled up.  No picks in the 4th or 5th and the 6th was my first scratch.  But in the seventh I had another Monmouth Park 40% Club pick with Scripture 'n Verse.  Trainer Jorge Navarro is the CEO of the Club with multiple angles in his arsenal.  Today 'Scripture was coming off a 70 day break and Navarro is a 44% winner with layoff types between 61-to-90 days.  The race unfolded just as I saw it as he stalked the pace in fourth, made a four-wide move intot he turn and then drew off easily.  When I made the bet he was a huge 10/1 and I had high hopes for a big score. 

Still the final odds of 2/1 were generous considering the trainer angle and he paid a solid $6.80.  I had tripled the bet so I cashed for over $50!  My pick in the 9th, Ari the Adventurer was eased at 5/2 after pressing to the far turn and in the last play of the day in the featured Elkwood Stakes Midnight Cello rallied strongly but too late when second at 5/2.  For the day I was an excellent 2-for-5 (40%) and made a profit of nearly $20!  A good start to the second project!