Jhonda Cox and Jrf Gottabeamonster claim the Virginia Barrel Classic High Stakes Slot Race title and $40,000.
The duos time of 14.720 claimed the slot race win and was second in the Open race 1 behind Leslie Willis and Gimme All Damoney who ran a 14.718. Cox and “Monster” left the race $42,517 richer after only one run.
“I Wasn’t sure what his run was going to be,” Cox said. “I had took him to jackpot the week before and he was lazy as expected, he hadn’t been run all winter or spring. I exhibitioned him once on Thursday but he’s 13 so he knows the difference. He has really stepped up when he knows it counts, we joke and say he’s conserving his energy.”
Cox was run over by a horse in her driveway and had been sidelined with an air cast for weeks, limiting her from riding.
“I had kept him lunged which is mostly what I do for him anyway, he’s boring to ride at the house because he’s really lazy,” Cox said. “I think it was about 10 days before VBC I started riding.”
Despite the setbacks, Cox knew “Monster” had it in him. A favorite among kids at local shows, the big gelding by the Cox’s late stallion Justins Rare Fuel, has a special bond with Cox.
“We raised him so I have had a bond since he first stood up, he’s never had a mean bone in his body, except I have a mini mule Johnny Cash he hates,” she said with a laugh. “He’s built like a truck and you definitely know you’re on power. I had to learn to go with him, his style is pretty easy, he can turn like a 14.2 horse. I’ve had the same bit on him since he was a 4-year-old.”
With 248 entries in the High Stakes Slot Race, Cox outran household names like Randee Prindle and Red Man Jones, Blaise Wheeler and Sbw Feelin The Pressure and Jamey Hunt and Gripe Gut.
“We were thrilled to run against this kind of competition and come out on top,” Cox said. “No matter where the shows, slots or local weekends, every dog has its day and as my husband says there’s no place to go but down once you’ve been on top. That keeps things in perspective. We’ve been blessed to raise some really nice horses and have to keep trying to make them that way but everybody knows there’s days when you ride those young ones and you think ‘why?’ It’s good to see ones like (Monster) looking at you from the stall.”
Cox looks forward to the Virginia Barrel Classic every year and thanks Carlton and family for all the do.
High Stakes Slot Race results:
1D: 1) Jhonda Cox/ Jrf Gottabeamonster/14.720/$40,000; 2) Randee Prindle/Red Man Jones/14.756/$23,000; 3) Paige Proctor/Playin N Vegas/14.781/$17,000; 4) Katie McGrain/Willsheluvmequik/14.825/$12,000; 5) Blaise Wheeler/Sbw Feelin The Pressure/14.840/$10,000; 6) Blaise Wheeler/Br The Tonka Taxi/14.852/$7,500; 7) Miranda Watson/Evidence Of Arson/14.860/$6,000; 8) Ella Kate Williams/Funny Firewater/14.887/$3,500.
2D: 1) Gay Wynn/Tres Down The Fame/15.242/$25,000; 2) Nicole Monroe/Jess Makin My Moves/15.243/$15,000; 3) Elizabeth Caldwell/Vf Good An Ready/15.247/$10,000; 4) Rebecca Eastridge/Payyourwaytaheaven/15.258/$7,000; 5) Nina Shirey/C Fstreakinifugotit/15.265/$4,000; 6) Holly Barr/Me Like Margarita/15.265/$4,000; 7)Georgiana Runyan/Bogies French Dancer/15.274/$2,000; 8) Shane Yoder/Ima Lil Spanky/15.283/$1,500.
3D: 1) Ryder Aull/This Money Runs/15.723/$15,000; 2) Kalleena VanHouten/Dynamic Casanova/15.725/$9,000; 3) Taylor Eastridge/Dare To B Rare/15.728/$6,500; 4) Breckyn Kuhn/Foolish N Famous/15.729/$4,500; 5) Joao Leao/Jl Traffic Surprise/15.738/$3,000; 6) Olivia Lipscomb/Panama Black Reserve/15.746/$2,000; 7) Lura Bradfield/View My Rear/15.764/$1,500; 8) Cole Smith/Epic Honor/15.766/$1,000.
