On Monday May 11th the New York Sire Stakes makes
its 1st stop of the year at Monticello Raceway. On slate are 4 divisions
of NYSS ($30,450), 2 Divisions of the Excelsior A ($15,000), and 2 divisions of
Excelsior B ($6, 600) on the days 14 race card. The caliber of the
entries is indicative of the quality of the New York Sire Stakes program in
recent years. At first glance one would think that this was a Grand
Circuit event with the likes of Crazy Wow and Habitat. According to
Monticello Race Secretary Eric Warner “This is an exceptional crop of Colts
this year and the Track Record may be in jeopardy” The track record for 3 Year
Old Trotting Colts is also the All Age Track Record of 1:55:2, which is held by
Gural Hanover
.
In the 2nd race, 1st division of Sire
Stakes, Crazy Wow will start from Post 4. The Ron Burke trained son of Crazed
comes into the race after 2 impressive qualifiers at the Meadowlands. He
was the winner of last year’s NYSS final. Crazy Wow is ranked 4th,
right behind last year’s 2 year Trotting Colt of the Year Pinkman in the
Experimental Time Ratings. Last year he took a record of 1:54, with
lifetime earnings of $232,928.
In the 4th race, local favorite Hollywoods
Thatway will look to defend his 3 race Monticello win streak. The son of
Conway Hall is trained by Ed Hart, Billy Parker will be driving.
Habitat, fresh off a victory in the Dexter Cup at Freehold
last weekend, will start from post 3, in race 8 At 2 he earned $534,407,
lifetime earnings in excess of $600,000 and a 2 year old mark of 1:53.4.
His victories last year include the William Wellwood Final, Matron Stakes, and
the Bluegrass Stake.
