The New York Sire Stakes “glamour boy" division of three-year-old pacing colts and geldings will visit Monticello Raceway on Monday, July 24. The eight-race card features two divisions of New York Sire Stakes (NYSS), with each split racing for $60,300, and three divisions of the Excelsior Series, with each dash worth $20,000. More than $180,000 in total purses is on the line.
The first of the Sire Stakes, featuring the top three point-earners in their respective division, is carded as race five. Huntinthelastdolar (Scott Zeron), the point leader by virtue of his three consecutive NYSS wins, will score from post seven for Canadian-based trainer Gregg McNair, who co-owns the Huntsville gelding with George Kerr of Gowanstown, Ont., and Brad Grant of Milton, Ont. Starting alongside hime from post eight will be Duval Street (Jason Bartlett), a Huntsville colt is trained by Ed Hart who scored a NYSS win at Saratoga in 1:52.4. Thunder Hunter Joe (Tyler Buter) drew the two-hole and is the 5-2 morning line favourite. Also a son of Huntsville, he earned his lifetime mark at Vernon Downs in Sire Stakes action with a 1:49.2 score for trainer Nick Devita.
The second division, worth $60,300, is carded as race eight. Goldin Greatness (Jason Bartlett) is the 5-2 morning line favourite and will start from post two for trainer/co-owner Chris Ryder. The Huntsville gelding was a winner last week at Yonkers Raceway in this company in 1:51.2.
The day's first Excelsior Series division in race two is the most competitive, with the two top point-earners in the division set to go head-to-head. Boston Bound (Matt Kakaley), a Boston Red Rocks colt who will start from post six, has won twice in this class and was second by a neck last time at Yonkers for trainer Mike Deters. The Erv Miller-trained Huntsville gelding, Bet On Buter (Marcus Miller), has drawn the dreaded post eight. He sports a three-race win streak, including two victories in Excelsior action. Tack Room Chatter (Jason Bartlett), a son of Huntsville trained by Shane Tritton, is the 5-2 morning line favourite with the inside draw coming off an Excelsior win at Yonkers.
Human Cocktail has been installed the early 5-2 favourite in his fourth race division, starting from the pylon post. The Travis Alexander-trained son of Huntsville was a winner last start out at Yonkers in his division, where he scored in 1:54.3.
In the final Excelsior division, the 5-2 morning line choice is Johnny Sack (Mark MacDonald), a gelded son of American Ideal who has been a model of consistency this year in seven starts, with three wins, including a Landmark Stakes victory at Goshen Historic Track two back, and three place finishes in Excelsior events. The Ray Schnittker trainee will starts from post two.
Post time for the eight-race card is 12:10 p.m.
(With files from Monticello Raceway)