Monticello’s July 4 Preview

Published: July 3, 2014 10:51 am EDT

On Friday, July 4, Monticello Raceway will host two-year-old pacing fillies in both the New York Sire Stakes and the Excelsior Series.

Four NYSS events and six Excelsior races will be contested. A fireworks display will be presented 20 minutes after the live racing concludes.

The NYSS events mark the first of eight legs for the freshmen fillies at various New York racetracks. The $225,000 NYSS Final for the division will take place at Yonkers Raceway on September 13. Along the way, the fillies will earn points in each leg, depending on the placements. The top eight point recipients will earn a berth in the final.

The majority of the entrants are daughters of American Ideal, Art Major, Rock N Roll Heaven and Bettors Delight, although an array of progeny from other New York sires dot the 10-race program that features only New York-bred fillies.

Bob Horowitz’s Shes Heavenly, a daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven, is coming into her race off a 1:55.1 triumph in a baby race at the Meadowlands Racetrack on June 28. She’ll be driven by Mike Lachance.

Jimmy Takter’s undefeated Zip Code Envy, another ‘Rock N Roll’ filly, has won all three of her baby races at the Meadowlands – her 1:56.1 clocking on June 27 was the best of the three. She’s owned by Christina Takter, John Fielding, Jim Fielding and Brixton Medical Ab and will be handled by Yannick Gingras.

Bettors Delight filly, Bettor N Better, from the powerful Ron Burke stable, will head into Monticello off a 1:56.3 victory in a June 23 baby race over Gaitway Farm’s mile oval. She’s owned by Our Horse Cents Stable and Blue Chip Bloodstock and will have Jimmy Morrill Jr. at the controls.

However, the last race on the card, a $27,750 NYSS split, has by far the strongest field. Seven of the eight pacing fillies in the race are have won qualifying races so far. The filed is led by Ronald Mersky’s First Delight, a Bettors Delight filly who is three-for-three over Saratoga. Cheryl McGovern trains her and Mike Lachance will drive.

Post time for the 10-race card will be at 5:30 p.m.

(With files from Monticello)

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