For the majority of the 56 two-year-old trotting fillies that dropped in the box for Monday (June 25) at Monticello Raceway, they will be making their pari-mutuel debuts, and many will be stepping on a half-mile track for the first time.
The entire card is comprised of New York Sire Stakes competition, with the green group split into four $26,750 Sire Stakes splits, three $15,000 Excelsior A heats, and two $6,500 Excelsior B dashes.
The opening Sire Stakes features a trio of nice fillies. Starting from the rail is Hot Chapter, a bay filly by Chapter Seven. In her first baby race at Gaitway Farms she was second, trotting her mile in 1:57.2. Andy Miller drives for trainer Julie Miller. Just Priceless (post 2) is looking to extend her winning streak to three wins for trainer Homer Hochstetler after back-to-back baby race wins at Vernon Downs. Charlie Norris will sit behind the Muscles Yankee filly for the first time. Monticello Raceway’s second-leading trainer Gary Messenger will send forth Summertime Fever (post 3) for owner Scott Woogen. She took a mark of 2:01.3 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Liquorstoreblues (post 4) knows her way around the half-mile oval quite well, as the Conway Hall filly is undefeated in her two starts at Saratoga Casino Hotel and trotted home in a blistering :28.4 in her first lifetime start. Leading Yonkers Raceway driver Jason Bartlett will be in the bike.
In the second division, Sensibility (post 1) has won two Vernon Downs qualifiers to date, including her last start in 2:00.1 by 6-1/2 lengths. Scott Zeron will drive the Muscle Mass filly for owners Donavan, Sbrocco, Winske and Ducharme. Amal Hall will look to shed her role as bridesmaid after finishing second in both of her qualifiers for trainer Julie Miller. The fleet Credit Winner-Arabella Hall lass trotted last quarters of :28.2 and :28 in her qualifiers at Gaitway Farm.
In the third heat of Sire Stakes, Somermusicchapter (post 1), With Out A Doubt (post 2) and Helen Goldstein (post 4) were all winners in their last start. Exotic Diamond toured the Monticello oval last week in her qualifier where she finished third for Buzzy Sholty. Scott Zeron will drive the RC Royalty offspring.
EVs Girl has been installed the 5-2 favourite in the last division, and will start from post position 4 in the six-horse field. The Crazed-Lindys Lullaby offspring was ultra-impressive in both of her baby races, winning both in identical times of 1:58.4 for trainer Julie Miller. Andy Miller will drive. Winndevie (Credit Winner–Vida De Vie) will start from the rail for Trond Smedshammer for longtime stable patron Purple Haze Stable LLC. She showed high speed in her only baby race, trotting her last quarter in a brisk :27.4. Successful NYSS driver Jeff Gregory brings Safe Word (post 2, Credit Winner–Fifty Shades) to the contest after finishing second to EVs Girl in her first lifetime start.
Post time is 12:50 p.m.
(with files from Monticello Raceway)