Speaking runs away from No Cents in John J. Reilly Stakes

Speaking was better than No Cents during 2023 and is still better than him.

The two favorites hooked up midway through the $85,000 John J. Reilly Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park and ran as a team to the three-sixteenths pole, at which point Speaking told No Cents, “No way,” and left him in the dust.

Despite making his first start since August while facing a rival who had been racing steadily, Speaking cruised home a comfortable winner of the Reilly, a six-furlong dirt sprint for New Jersey-breds, beating No Cents by 3 1/2 lengths.

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Speaking ($3.40), a 5-year-old homebred, won the Reilly for the second year in a row for jockey Jairo Rendon, trainer Eddie Owens, and Vincent Annarella’s Holly Crest Form,

“He ran big. I’m pleased,” Owens said. “He didn’t win the way I wanted him to win, but he won. I thought he would win easier.”

Speaking required 13.75 seconds, very slow, to cover his final furlong, though only two horses in the Reilly finished faster. The gelding’s winning time over a fast track was 1:11.75.

Rendon had to urge Speaking before the half-mile pole when Paco Lopez on even-money second choice No Cents made an early outside move to try and take command. The race was on around the turn and into the homestretch.

Speaking beat No Cents twice at Monmouth during 2023. He beat him again Sunday.

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