Ravalo hangs on in three-horse photo

The well-traveled Ravalo ($5.60) overcame a bump at the start and a late surge by Joey P. and Maddy's Lion to win a three-horse photo in the $70,000 Decathlon Stakes at Monmouth Park.

A 4-year-old gelding based in Maryland with trainer Donald Barr, Ravalo has now won at five different racetracks since last September, including two stakes at Mountaineer and one apiece at Presque Isle, Aqueduct, and Pimlico.

Able to take the lead despite bumping with Maddy's Lion coming out of the gate, Ravalo went wire to wire under jockey Mike Luzzi, setting swift fractions of 21.75 and 43.94 seconds en route to six furlongs over a muddy track in 1:08.25, holding off Joey P. by a neck.

Joey P., making his first start since December and bidding for his 12th win locally, beat 12-1 Maddy's Lion by a head for second.