It was the hottest day of the year thus far at Monticello Raceway on Monday afternoon (June 18). Temperatures broached 90 degrees as three-year-old pacing colts and geldings came to town.
The first heat of Sire Stakes ($39,200) went to post with six starters in the first race, and post time favourite Real Surreal put in a few extra steps as the gate left and made a break leaving. Topville Olympian starting from the rail, protected his turf and was first away from the gate and took the field through fractions of :28.3 and :58. Twin B Tuffenuff (Mark Macdonald) came first-over at the half, and at the three-quarter stanza in 1:26.4 the pair was side by side.
Jason Bartlett and Mr Profeta made a mild bid in the lane but to no avail and finished second as Topville Olympian held him off to win by a length in 1:55. Twin B Tuffenuff finished third.
The son of American Ideal took his lifetime mark last year at Monticello Raceway in Sire Stakes competition also picked up his first win of the season. Topville Olympian is owned by Crawford Farms and Billy Joe and Anthony Timmins and Menary Racing Inc.
Race 7 was the second heat of Sire Stakes, and the post time favourite Trump Nation started from the outside post 7. As the gate left the son of Betterthancheddar was extremely wide in the first turn and had to be wrangled in by Jason Bartlett. Rockapelo cut the mile for Marcus Miller and trainer Linda Toscano to the head of the stretch. Covered up the entire mile and saving ground was Ghost Dance (American Ideal) who won by a length for Scott Zeron in 1:54.4. Rockapelo held on to finish second, with Ostro Hanover (Jim Taggart, Jr.) finishing third.
Eric Adams trains the homebred son of American Ideal-Epoxy Queen for Miller Farms of Stouffville, Ont.
The fastest race of the day came in the last race of the day. The last division of NYSS saw the favourite My Delight watch Rock Light and Scott Zeron show the way and try to steal a wire to wire win through fractions of :28, :56:2, and 1:25. Rootin Tootin sat the garden seat the entire mile and charged through the middle of the pack in deep stretch to overtake Handsoffmychips by a head in 1:53.4. Rootin Tootin is a son of Roll With Joe and picked up his second win of the year for trainer Blake Macintosh. He co-owns the sophomore with fellow Canadians Stu McIntosh, Fred Brayford and Robert MacNeil.
Here’s what transpired on the remainder of the card:
Excelsior A
Rumble (Rock N Roll Heaven) benefited from a pocket trip following pacesetter Major Offense and swooped the field of seven past the three-quarter pole to ramble to a one-length win in 1:57.2 for Jason Bartlett.
Lets Roll did just that and won handily by six lengths in 1:54.1 in his dash. the Roll With Joe colt made a big move down the backside for Jim Marohn, Jr. and trainer Jake Huff for his third win of the year.
Excelsior B
The lone division of the Excelsior B saw heavy favourite Striking Reality (Jason Bartlett) cut the mile, while the eventual winner Asiago Romano was poised in perfect striking position and was the first to pull down the backside.
Asiago Reality prevailed by a neck in 1:57 and paid $22.20 for driver Jim Marohn, Jr. It was a maiden wins for the pacer, who is trained by Jessica Okusko. The son of Betterthancheddar is owned by Amante Standardbreds of Delray Beach, Florida.
(With files from Monticello)