Monticello Raceway will host its first New York Sire Stakes of the year with three-year-old trotting colts coming to the Mighty M on Monday, June 2. Seven colts are entered in the lone Sire Stakes event vying for $119,700 USD. Also on tap are two $20,000 USD splits of the Excelsior Stakes.
The first Sire Stakes event is carded as Monday's third race. Moving up in class is BJMs Lil Man, who has been installed the early 5-2 morning line favorite after his win last start at Vernon Downs in 1:55.2 in the Excelsior class. Karinchak (7-2, pictured above) was a winner last year at Monticello in Sire Stakes company, and the son of Chapter Seven will start from post one for trainer Ray Schnittker and driver Mark MacDonald.
Ake Svanstedt brings a pair of Chapter Seven colts to the fray; he will drive Gangsta Talk (PP3, 3-1) while Happy Jack B (PP4, 3-1) gets the services of Scott Zeron. A winner of $220,000 as a freshman, Happy Jack B ended his two-year-old campaign on a high note by taking his 1:54.1 mark at the Red Mile in the Bluegrass Stakes before starting in the Breeders Crown.
The two Excelsior divisions are slated for races one and six.
First post time is 12:10 p.m.
(with files from Monticello)