Monticello Raceway hosted a pair of $57,000 New York Sire Stakes divisions for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Monday, July 31.
The first division had a short field of five with a Ron Burke entry of Chapercraz (post one) and Sevecheetah (post four). Driver Joe Bongiorno led from start to finish aboard Chapercraz in 1:56.1 over Cecil Hanover (Mark MacDonald) with Wild Bill Kelso (Jordan Stratton) third. The son of Crazy Wow-Chaperess was bred by Purple Haze Stable and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura. He earned his second (consecutive) NYSS win on the year.
In the second division, five trotters went behind the gate. Onion Gum and Jordan Stratton pulled out of the two-hole going to the opening panel in a soft :29.3 and went on to win in 1:58.2 over the favoured The Gruffalo (Bartlett) and Some Kinda Crazy (MacDonald). The $250,000 son of Chapter Seven-Prinsessa is trained by Lucas Wallin and is owned by S R F Stable, breeder Order By Stable and Mario Mazza. He picked up his first Sire Stakes win on the year.
Stratton also swept a pair of $20,000 Excelsior Series divisions, starting with 32-1 Sevenatchi, who pulled off a shocker as he got past the favourite, Espresso (Tyler Miller), at the wire in 1:59.2. Trained by Stanley Zombick Jr., the son of Chapter Seven-Catching Katie paid $67 to win.
In the second division, the pocket-sitting Seven Sins pulled from the two-hole passing the three-quarter pole to take the lead over Met Your Request (Miller). The Chapter Seven-Isolde colt did it just in time, as Met Your Request made a break on the lead, as did City Of Hope (Jim Devaux) and Kingpin Hanover (Jim Pantaleano). Seven Sins strolled home an eight-length winner in 1:57.2 for Stratton and trainer Noel Daley. Lotto Hill (Bartlett) and Night Star (MacDonald) inherited second and third.
Sire Stakes action continues next week at the Mighty M, when the three-year-old trotting fillies come to town. Post time will be at 12:10 p.m.
(With files from Monticello Raceway; Photo of Chapercraz winning a New York Sire Stakes division at Buffalo Raceway)