August 31

40% At Monmouth

Today marks the final Sunday of the Monmouth Project, and the last day that I will have only selections from Monmouth Park.  It's hard to believe that tomorrow is the first day of September and Labor Day which officially marks the end of the summer and the summer racing season.  It has been a busy summer as I've travelled to Houston, Colonial Williamsburg, Monmouth Park on the Jersey Shore, Chicago for the Arlington Million, and to Delray Beach for a staycation.  My three kids were here for a weekend, with Jeff & Julie staying for nearly a week and my Mom, sister, & niece were here for ten days.  And in spite of all that I managed to complete daily handicapping of every race run on every of the Churchill Spring/Summer meet and every day at Monmouth from July 4 through Labor Day!  So today I originally had six selections on my sheet, but my double investment in the opener was scratched.  In the 2nd race I doubled the bet on Zullaby, who was a Monmouth 40% Club angle.  I was delighted he went off at 7/1, but he was never in the race, 5th.  In the fourth I liked Stevearino at 6/1 in the program.  He was bet all the way down to 8/5 favoritism, but again, ran evenly to be a non-threatening fourth.  I picked up my first win in the 5th when I had another Monmouth Park 40% Club play on Kobel.  Jorge Navarro is a big percentage play first off the claim, which fit here.  He sat off the leaders until the turn, then began picking off runners until he collared the leader in deep stretch and edged clear.  The 8/5 price netted me nearly $30.  In the 9th, the Sorority Stakes for juvenile fillies I liked Perpetual Novena with Paco Lopez.  He broke poorly and was never a factor at 4/1.  The final bet of the day was in the Sapling Stakes for two-year-olds.  Souper Colossal had been really impressive in his first two starts when sprinting 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 furlongs.  Today he'd stretch out to a full mile, go two turns AND had to break from the outside post.  But he quickly seized command before they reached the first turn and led them on a merry chase.  When the pressers started to close in heading for home he found another gear and drew off with something left.  Very impressive. So, for the day I was 2-for-5 and showed a flat bet profit!