Trackman Anthony Desimone worked hard the prior week and over the weekend to put the best possible racing surface together for the New York Sire Stakes first visit at Monticello Raceway on Monday, but it was not to be.

An overnight rain made the track slick for the first three races, but as the day went on the track got better. The afternoon saw as Scott Zeron drive three winners, Ake Svanstedt and Trond Smedshammer each has two wins, Linda Toscano had two training wins and Ken Jacobs had two owner wins.

Post time favourite Fury Road made an uncharacteristic break leaving the gate, in the short field of six and two others made miscues down the back side. Red Reign and Jordan Stratton inherited the lead and took the field through soft fractions of :31 and 1:04. All the while, Tribute To Seven was lurking in the two-hole. At the 5/8 marker Scott Zeron had Tribute to Seven in high gear and had the lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:31. From that point the son of Chapter Seven continued to open daylight on the field to win by six lengths in a pedestrian clocking of 2:01.

Tribute To Seven is trained by Linda Toscano for owner Richard Gutnick. Red Reign held on for second.

The second division of NYSS saw Lucky Ava destroy a field of her contemporaries as she cruised to an easy 11-length victory in 1:58.4 - the fastest mile of the afternoon - over Jackie Newlands and Firm To Stay.

The daughter of Lucky Chucky picked up her third win of the young season for Co-owner/trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt and owners Little E LLC and Van Camp Trotting Corp. Lucky Ava was bred by co – owner Little E LLC. The win vaulted Lucky Ava over $250,00 in lifetime earnings.

Both Supergirl Riley (PP7) and Natalie Hanover (PP5) left the gate hard in the third division of Sire Stakes, racing for a purse of $30,450, but it was Supergirl Riley who got there first. The duo cut fractions of :29.1, 1:00.2 and 1:29.2 and still remained 1-2 at the top of the stretch. Trond Smedshammer had Dew To Win in perfect position and overtook the leaders to prevail in 1:59 over Natalie Hanover and Perfect Summer K. The winner returned $15.20.

Dew To Win is owned by Purple Haze Stables LLC and picked up her second win of the year and is by Deweycheatumnhowe.

As Somedew Somedont cut the fractions of 30.4, 1:01.2, 1:31.1 Ake Svanstedt was content to sit the pocket with $300,00 yearling Ciao Dolce. The daughter of Credit Winner–Pizza Dolce popped out of the two-hole in mid-stretch to notch the victory in 1:59.4 over Somedew Somedont. The maiden-breaking win for the youngster gave Ake Svanstedt a driving and training double.

Here’s a recap of some other events held on the card:

Excelsior A

Abbie Hall (Conway Hall – Armbro Archer) made a huge brush down the backside and won by five lengths in 1:59.4. The trotter paid $2.40 to win.

Pittstop Emerald tried to wire the field, but Girl Crush (Conway Hall) had other plans and won by a neck in 2:00 for driver Scott Zeron. Girl Crush is trained by the young Swede Lucas Wallin.

Sassy Massy and Mark Whitcroft dodged traffic to take their division in 2:02.2 and returned a healthy $35.40 win ticket. The daughter of Muscle mass earned her third consecutive win.

Seven Karats went wire to wire in a field of seven for trainer Linda Toscano in 1:59.1. The daughter of Chapter Seven is owned by Kenneth Jacobs and picked up her first pari-mutuel win of the year. Seven Karats was bred by Diamond Creek Farms LLC.

Jordan Stratton and A Gift For You (Credit Winner) visited the winner’s circle after holding off White Cheetah in 1:59.4 to give owner Ken Jacobs his double for the day

Excelsior B

Local reinsman Bruce Aldrich wired the field and skipped away by four lengths with Executive Decision (Conway Hall) in 2:02.2 for trainer Homer Hochstetler. She was followed by Byway and Coastie in the place and show positions.

Chasing Stardom (Deweycheatumnhowe) picked up her first lifetime win in 2:03.3, she is trained by Howard Okusko and was driven by Mark MacDonald.

The sire tally was Chapter Seven and Conway Hall both had three winners each on the afternoon.

(Monticello Raceway)