On Monday (Aug. 2), four divisions of New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) went to post at Monticello Raceway. Each dash was worth $25,000. When the dust settled at the end of the afternoon, a track record for two-year-old pacing colts was set by Forrest Blu and Tyler Buter had four winners.
In the first NYSS division, there was a mad scramble leaving the gate as JD, Bounty Hunter, and Forrest Blu all went for the lead. Bounty Hunter was three-deep going to the quarter and finally made the lead in the paddock turn. Once on top, Forrest Blu popped the two hole to get the lead before the half in :57.2, and had two lengths on the pack as they rolled to three-quarters in 1:26. The gap continued to open as he had three lengths at the top of the lane to then draw off and win by two lengths in a track-record performance of 1:54.2.
It was the third win of the season and second-consecutive in sire stakes for Forrest Blu. The son of Roll With Joe was bred by Crawford Farms and is owned by Harmony Oaks Racing, Crawford Farms and J. Crawford. The track record was the second time this year a new standard has been set for pacing juveniles.
Race 4 was the second division. Jordan Stratton cut the mile with Go With The Flow. The eventual winner, Pickup Man Hanover, was fifth and gapped at the half in :56.3. Pickup Man Hanover, the 3-5 favourite, then unleashed a beastly move down the backside and was three-deep. At the top of the lane, he had two lengths on the field and went on to win by six in 1:55.4 for Tyler Buter’s third win on the afternoon. The son of Huntsville is trained by Monica Krist.
Stretch The Line, the 1-9 betting favourite, stretched out the field as he scored a wire-to-wire eight length romp in 1:56.1. Greg The Leg was second, followed by Blaz N Chip. Stretch The Line is trained by Erv Miller. The son of Huntsville notched his fourth win of the season.
In the final NYSS event of the afternoon, Flip My Chip was content to bide his time as Monticello local KJ Hunter and Te Amo Blue Chip controlled the fractions. Coming off the last turn, he was in perfect position to overtake the early leaders to sprint home in :28.1 and score in 1:54.4. Marcus Miller drove the son of Heston Blue Chip, who earned his first Sire Stakes win.
In Excelsior A action, the winners were Power Blu (1:56.3, Matt Kakaley); Lannister Hanover (1:56.2, Jordan Stratton); and Shakertown (1:57.1, Jason Bartlett). In Excelsior B action, winners were I Pay Your Salary (1:59.6, Tyler Buter) and Timetoroll Hanover (1:59.1, Mark Macdonald).
Roll With Joe and Huntsville each sired three winners and Heston Blue Chip had two winners.
(Monticello Raceway)