On Monday, June 3, the New York Sire Stakes roll into town to make its 2024 debut at Monticello Raceway with three-year-old trotting colts taking centre stage. The nine-race card features more than $200,000 USD in purses with two NYSS divisions and three $20,000 USD splits of the Excelsior Stakes with seven horses per division.

The first NYSS split is a seven-horse contest for $59,000 USD, carded as the fourth race. Keep Asking (Tyler Buter) from the rail has been installed the morning line favourite for trainer George Ducharme. The son of Chapter Seven finished fourth last start out in this company. Inflation (PP4) is moving up in class after a win last week at Vernon Downs in the Excelsior class where he scored in 1:53.4. Jordan Stratton will drive the Lucas Wallin-trained son of Chapter Seven. Thinker Monkey, a $500,000 yearling acquisition, drew post five for trainer Marcus Melander. A full brother to three-time Breeders Crown winner and double millionaire Gimpanzee, Thinker Monkey was third last week at Vernon Downs.

Race eight is the second spilt worth $58,100 USD with six starters. The early favourite is Sir Pinocchio, starting from the rail with Jason Bartlett in the bike. He finished second in Sire Stakes competition in his last start at Vernon Downs, while earlier in the month he won the prestigious $184,795 Dexter Cup at Freehold Raceway (pictured above) for trainer Ed Hart. The son of Mets Hall is owned by Carolyn Atherton of Scarsdale, N.Y.  The 3-1 second choice is Fly By (PP7) with Scott Zeron in the bike for trainer Tony Alagna. The son of Chapter Seven is seeking his first win of the year. Purple Haze Stables send forth Chaplind (PP3) with Tyler Buter at the helm, the third choice at 4-1. Last year, the son of Chapter Seven was a winner of $172,030 for trainer George Ducharme.

First race post time on Monday at Monticello is 12:10 p.m.

(Monticello Raceway)