On a wet afternoon at Monticello Raceway on Monday, June 26, 29 two-year-old pacing colts embarked on their pari-mutuel careers, racing for total purses in excess of $145,000. It was a fine display of this year’s New York crop of juvenile pacing talent. The card featured two divisions of New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) and two divisions of the Excelsior Series.
In the first NYSS division, worth $53,500, Peter Blood and Rock Berks's homebred colt Boston Rocks was victorious in 1:58.1 for driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Mike Deters.
The betting public made Jones Hanover (Jordan Stratton) the favourite with Boston Rocks the 2-1 second choice. The latter, a son of Boston Red Rocks out of the Somebeachsomewhere mare Scirocco Sarah, used the pole position to his advantage in his second career start, as he was the first off the gate, subduing a weak threat from Taranaki (Scott Zeron) to take the lead. He was on top at every pole in :30.1, 1:00.4 and 1:30.2. Jones Hanover made his move at the five-eighths pole to take aim at the leader but was never able to make up enough ground. By the top of the stretch, Boston Rocks had two lengths on the pack and put away any contenders as he kicked home in :27.4 for the maiden-breaking score by 4-3/4 lengths. Taranaki finished second over Jones Hanover.
In the $54,500 second division, Fidder's Creek Stables's homebred colt Avenger Force overcame a post eight start to deliver as the favourite in his career debut, also winning in 1:58.1, with Matt Kakaley in the sulky for trainer Travis Alexander.
Hunt Or Be Hunted (Stratton) left from post six and was the first to the front with Levi Sonic (Lauren Tritton) right behind him as they hit the opening panel in :28.3. The positions remained unchanged until the half in :59.2, when the favourite Avenger Force, who was sitting fifth along the pylons, tipped to the outside. Cantfindmywayhome (Bartlett) made an authoritative move going down the backside to get the lead. But not for long. Ameritric (Tyler Buter) unleased a big move himself and was suddenly the new leader. As soon as that one cleared in the paddock turn, Avenger Force engaged Ameritric in a stretch duel that went down to the very end. At some point during the mile, the overcheck for Avenger Force became undone but did not appear to have any ill effect as the Huntsville-Apple Delight colt prevailed by a length. Vandiemen Blue Chip finished third.
The $20,000 Excelsior splits were won by the Ray Schnittker-trained Darius (Huntsville-Miss Sowo) and driver Mark MacDonald in 1:58.4 and the Nicholas Devita stable's Euro Step (So Surreal-Encore Deo) in 1:59.2 with Tyler Buter in the bike.
(With files from Monticello Raceway)