Monticello Raceway will offer over $165,000 to 2 year old
trotting colts and geldings in the New York Sire Stakes and Excelsior Series on
Monday afternoon, August 11. There will be three splits each in the NYSS and
the Excelsior A and B Series.
In years past there was hardly a 2-year old trotter
who could even approach 2:00 on a double-oval much less win in that time or
faster. But those days are long gone.
At the Mighty M on Monday in NYSS action there are
already three freshman colt trotters that own records of 2:00 or faster and
none of those racing in the events have had more than four or
five lifetime starts at this time.
The second $35,867 division, race 5 on the card, appears to
be the most competitive and features Royal Deceptor who won a NYSS trot at
Yonkers Raceway on July 25 in 1:58.2. Mickey McGivern will handle the RC
Royalty-Art Of Deception colt when they leave from the six hole.
However, they’ll have to contend with Ray Schnittker’s
Gabe The Bear Dean who also won an NYSS event at Yonkers but just a tick slower
in 1:58.3. They’ll start inside Royal Deceptor in the four-hole.
And with the Chris Lems-driven, Wings of Royalty , a
1:56 winner in his last start over Tioga Downs 5/8th mile oval
in post three, this heat figures to be a barn burner.
Mambo Blue Chip, an even 2:00 winner at Yonkers on July 25,
is the early line favorite in third $35,867 NYSS division, race 8. Jeff Gregory
will handle the son of Lucky Chucky-Flirty Two when they leave from post
three.
The afternoon card will kick-off with the first $35,867 NYSS
split. Pier Ho Exotic, from the pylon position, figures to be the favorite at
post time. John Cummings, Jr. owns and will drive the Conway Hall-Rose Run
Exotic gelding from the pole position. Pier Ho Exotic sports a 2:01.2 record in
an NYSS division over Buffalo Raceway’s double oval on July 9.
The undercard will feature three trots in the Excelsior
Series Division “A” and three in the Excelsior Series
Division “B” Series.
Purists will be in their glory on the 13-race card of August
11. With four overnight races joining the nine NYSS trots, the betting card
that day will feature 11 races for trotters and only two for pacers.
First race post time set at 12:50pm.
