In recent years the sire stakes programs in various states
have been a boon to county fair racing. Purses are in the thousands now
as compared to the hundreds prior to the sire stakes programs.
On Thursday, August 30 the Finals in the New York
County Fair Sire Stakes program will be presented at Monticello Raceway. Four
$10,000 purses are in the offing, one each for 2-year-old pacers and trotters
and one each for 3-year-olds on both gaits. Only the leading point earners in
each division are eligible to compete.
They’ll go as races five, six, eight and nine on the 14-race
card that afternoon.
Darron Hall, with a seasonal record of 2:00.3 at Tioga Downs
will get good backing in the 3-year-old Trot Final. Owned, trained,
and driven by Harold Smith the Cash Hall-Highwaytoheaven gelding will
start from post three in race five.
River Rising, a 1:55.3 qualifying race winner at
Vernon Downs on August 24th, will lead the parade in
the 2 Year Old Pace Final. Owned by Andy Gardner the Riverboat
King-Ashlee Lyn filly will leave from post six in race six with Chris
Lems aboard.
In the sophomore pace, Ocean Mist, a 1:53.1 winner at Tioga
Downs on July 10th will carry the favorites roll into that contest,
race eight on the card. The Artiscape-Spring Mist gelding is owned, trained and
will be driven by Truman Gale when he starts from post three.
A final NYCFSS will feature freshman trotters. Ashes
Cash, a Cash Hall-Ashameg colt with eight wins in nine starts will be the one
to beat. He sports a record of 2:02.1 taken at Vernon Downs
and will start from post position four in race nine with Harold
Smith at the controls.
First race post time will be at 12:50pm
