A leg of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for two-year-old male pacers will be contested at Monticello Raceway on Monday, July 29 as there will be two divisions worth $51,500 USD each plus four $20,000 USD divisions of the Excelsior Stakes.
Total purses for the day will be in excess of $200,000 USD. Both Sire Stakes races will have five-horse fields.
Fast Choice has been installed the 5-2 morning line favourite from post five in the second division as the son of Courtly Choice is currently the top point leader in his category by virtue of his two consecutive NYSS wins at Saratoga and Yonkers raceways for trainer Jared Bako. Jordan Stratton will drive the undefeated gelding. The powerful Travis Alexander stable will send forth Silent Weapon (post three, Matt Kakaley). The colt was second last week to Fast Choice. Oogleville (post four) is another top contender as he looks to shed his bridesmaid role. Per Engblom trains that son of Huntsville and Mark MacDonald will drive.
The morning line favourite in the first division is Courts On Fire, who hit the board in his first two starts in the NYSS for trainer Blake MacIntosh. The Courtly Choice colt will be driven by Greg Merton from post five. The Huntsville gelding Meltdown Monte (post two, Tyler Buter), who finished third in his career debut in this company at Saratoga, is a top contender for trainer Scott DiDomenico. Red Blooded (post three, Jordan Stratton) is trained by Mike Deters for owner Rick Berks -- connections of last year's two-year-old NYSS champion Boston Rocks -- and this son of Boston Red Rocks has finished sixth and third in NYSS competition to start his career.
The Excelsior action features the division's point leader, Southpaw (post three) in the first race on the card. The American Ideal colt was a winner in his last outing at Saratoga in this class for owner, trainer and driver Jimmy Whittemore.
(With files from Monticello Raceway)