Monticello: 14-year-old Elias Joy goes out a winner

A 14-year-old horse is comparable in age to that of a 45 1/2-year-old human. Behind the gate at Monticello Raceway on Monday, the 14-year-old Old Elias Joy looked racy and eager to go, certainly not the demeanor you would expect from a rugged old campaigner on the cusp of beginning retirement.

Sent off as the prohibitive favorite of 1/5 and starting from the rail for driver 21-year-old Hunter Oaks, the old-timer Elias Joy worked smarter and not harder as he was content to sit the pocket as Justin Huckabone Jr. cut the mile with the young whipper-snapper RC’S Ready through fractions of 29 3/5, 1:02 1/5, 1:33 3/5. In the stretch, Elias Joy dug deep and unleashed a wicked last quarter of 28 3/5 to score by a scant nose in 2:04 2/5 and paid $2.40 to win.

The 14-year son of Floritas Hero has not slowed down in his old age - the rugged gelding made 42 starts in this. In his last 8 starts he has amassed 6 wins and finished third twice. His season tally of 18 wins earns him the title of the leading older trotter in the nation with wins and is the second winningest horse at Monticello Raceway this season.

Elias Joy's overall body of work is impressive with 276 lifetime starts (62 wins, 26 place finishes, 39 times finishing third) and $255,000 in lifetime earnings. More impressively is the almost $40,000 he earned in his final year of eligibility. Elias Joy is owned by Andrew J. Gannon of Hamburg NY and is trained by Robert Lounsbury. He was often driven to victory by Hunter Oakes and was bred by Gestut Prieros of Germany.

After the win, Elias Joy was greeted by well-wishers in the winner’s circle for a blanket presentation.

$740,036 was wagered on the 11-race card on December 23, an average of over $67,000 per race. Monticello Raceway will be dark on Christmas Day but will resume live racing and full card Simulcasting on Thursday December 26 with a 12:20 Post Time.

-edited release (Monticello)