The 2023 New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) makes its first stop at the Mighty M on Monday, June 19, when the three-year-old pacing fillies take the stage, racing for more than $172,000 in purses.
The nine-race program features three NYSS races, with each split worth $37,833, and three divisions of the Excelsior Series, with a purse of $20,000 per event.
The first Sire Stakes race is carded as Race 1 and goes to post with a scant field of five. B On The Hunt will score from post four. In recent Sire Stakes competition, the daughter of Huntsville has had a place and a show finish; she will be driven by Jordan Stratton for trainer Cory Stratton. Kissin Joe (Mark MacDonald) starts from the rail for trainer Andrew Stafford.
The next split has the top two point earners in their respective division. Leading the way is Turn The Charm. Starting from the rail, the offspring of Huntsville has been perfect thus far this season, recording Sire Stakes wins recently at Buffalo and Saratoga and has banked in excess of $68,000. She is trained by Bruce Clark and will be driven by Marcus Miller. Southwind Bella (PP3) was a winner last start in Saratoga. In this company, she recorded a stellar win at Chester when she torched the oval and earned a new speed badge of 1:50.2. Jack Pelling will drive for trainer Brett Pelling. Hunting Season (PP4) was one of the better fillies from last year, earning $114,000 during her freshman season for trainer Ray Schnittker. Mark MacDonald will drive.
The final dash of Sire Stakes is Race 8. Earthwindfire (pictured above) will start from post five and has been installed the morning line favourite. She was a winner last year at Monticello in this class. In her lone pari-mutuel start this year after a pair of qualifiers, she was victorious in her division of Sire Stakes at Saratoga in 1:53.2. The American Ideal sophomore is trained by Brett Pelling and will be driven by Jack Pelling. The co-favourite is True Blue Hanover, who will start from the rail. She finished second last start in Sire Stakes to Turn The Charm. John Blazer trains the daughter of American Ideal and she will be driven by Jason Bartlett.
The three Excelsior races are carded at Races 2, 6 and 9. The point leader is Lady Jericho by virtue of her win and place finish. She starts from post six for trainer John Berger and will be driven by Jordan Stratton in Race 6. At The Hop has been straddled with outside Post 7. She was a winner last start out at the Spa. Mark MacDonald will handle the driving chores for trainer Jim Nickerson.
First post time for the nine-race card of harness racing is 12:10 p.m.
(Monticello)