On Monday afternoon (June 3) at Monticello Raceway, Mr Victor and Cavill Hanover highlight the New York Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts.
The entire nine-race card is dedicated to Sire Stakes competition. There will be three divisions of Sire Stakes, with two splits racing for a purse of $38,200, and the third for $37,500; three heats of Excelsior A horses, vying for a purse of $15,000 apiece; and three heats of Excelsior B, two racing for $6,600 and one for $6,500.
The first race is the first heat of the Sire Stakes with five horses going to post. The fastest of the lot is Winnerup. The son of Credit Winner is trained and driven by Trond Smedshammer for owner Purple Haze Stables. He earned his lifetime mark of 1:53.1 at Vernon in a NYSS race on May 10.
Horns For Three will start from the rail. He was a winner in his last start in 1:55.4. Jason Bartlett will drive the son of Credit Winner for trainer Jeff Cullipher.
Mr Vicktor (Tyler Buter) has drawn the rail in his dash (race six) and has been installed the morning line favourite at odds of 5-2. Mr Vicktor was sold on May 22 and Jennifer Lappe will now train the RC Royalty colt for herself and fellow owners Robert Santagata, Diamond Pride and Joe Lee. A model of consistency, in six lifetime starts he has a tally of four wins, one second and one third-place finish. In his last start at Vernon Downs, he finished second to last year’s two-year-old trotting colt of the year Gimpanzee in the Empire Breeders Classic. Prior to that he won a NYSS event at Vernon in 1:55.1.
Local favourite Chip Chip Conway (post four) is also in that division. The son of Conway Hall is trained by Gary Messenger with regular driver Jim Taggart Jr. in the sulky.
In the final NYSS division (race nine), the morning line choice at 5-2 is Travel Winner (post four). The son of Credit Winner has three wins in nine starts this season for trainer R. Nifty Norman. In his last start he finished third in the Empire Breeders Classic. Tyler Buter will drive.
Cavill Hanover is the morning line second choice at 3-1. The son of Muscle Mass is trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt. In three starts this season, he was second in the Dexter Cup elimination, finished fourth in the final, and fourth in the Empire Breeders Classic.
First race post time for the card is 12:50 p.m.
(Monticello)