It will be the battle of the undefeated when the unbeaten Fragment and Quickaway go head-to-head for the first time this season during the sixth leg of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) at Monticello Raceway on Monday, July 28, with two-year-old pacing colts having their first look at the famed Catskill Mountain oval.
Nine sophomore colts will contend for the lone Sire Stakes event, worth $112,100 USD, with the top four point earners in the division going head-to-head.
The quality field is a highly competitive group containing two unbeaten colts. Fragment (post five) will be driven by Jason Bartlett. The son of Huntsville has three NYSS wins to his credit this season. Trained by Per Engblom, he scored his last start at Saratoga Raceway in 1:54.3. The other unbeaten steed is Quickaway (post eight, Brett Beckwith), trained by Blake MacIntosh. The Canadian-based son of American Ideal sports a perfect resume. He has registered Sire Stakes wins at Saratoga and Yonkers Raceway.
Hunt Off The Press (post one, Tyler Buter) has been a model of consistency this season with two seconds and one win in three starts. He scored in a Sire Stakes event at Buffalo Raceway and was second last start at Saratoga, where he was turned by Quickaway.
Lakewood Nick (post seven, Dan Rawlings) has a pair of second-place finishes at Saratoga and Buffalo. The $52,000 USD yearling acquisition is trained by Ron Burke.
The card includes two divisions of the Excelsior Stakes, each dash is worth $20,000 USD. The top two point earners have drawn into the same division, race six, and will start side by side. Shakeitonthebeach (post three, Jason Bartlett) has won his last two Excelsior races at Saratoga and Buffalo for trainer Shane Tritton. Southwind Iron (post four, Dan Rawlings) was a winner in his last start at Saratoga in 1:57.1 and has a pair of place performances.
The morning line favourite in the other dash, race eight, is Wish You The Best (post two, Jordan Stratton) by virtue of his last winning start in overnight company at Pocono Downs with a 1:54.2. Ray Schnittker has an entry with Ghost Hunt (post six, Schnittker) and Artistic Lover (post eight, Mark Macdonald).
Post time for the card is 12:10 p.m.
(With files from Monticello Raceway; photo of Quickaway)