The fourth leg of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) program gets underway on Monday, July 27 at Monticello Raceway as the state's two-year-old pacing colts head to the gate. There will be a single $108,300 USD NYSS division and four $20,000 USD divisions of the Excelsior class.
The Sire Stakes dash, carded as Race 5, has seven starters entered. Missing is the division point leader, Beatle Blue Chip, who was not entered.
Maries Jet has been installed the morning line favourite by virtue of his second place finish in his last Sire Stakes outing, where he finished second to Beatle Blue Chip. He was a winner of a NYSS event two starts back in Buffalo, winning in 1:56.2. The son of Roll With Joe–R Marie Hanover is trained by Aaron Lambert, with Jason Bartlett driving from post four.
Bastonata Blue Chip (American Courage–Ascending) will start from post seven with Brent Holland in the bike. He scored in his Sire Stake debut at Buffalo in 1:55.4, and finished second in his last start in this company. Clear Deal (American Ideal-Clara) has picked up a cheque in every start; he will start from post five with Leon Bailey in the bike for trainer Chuck Connor Jr.
The Excelsior class is highlighted by Twin B Wildfire (Huntsville–Twin B Fabulous), starting from post position four in his seven-horse contest. The freshman colt is the Excelsior point leader after a 1:57.1 win at Buffalo and a second-place finish at Vernon Downs. He will be driven by leading NYSS driver Jason Bartlett.
The existing track record for freshmen pacing colts is 1:54.1, set by Groovin Will in 2024.
First post time for the card is 12:10 p.m.
(Monticello Raceway)