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Friday, July 28, 2017

Freshman Trotting Colts on tap at Monticello Raceway Monday July 31st

By Shawn Wiles

Based on the sheer number of 2-Year-Old Trotting Colts that dropped in the box, the health of the New York Sire Stakes program appears to be excellent condition. 72 colts were entered for Mondays July 31st New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) event at Monticello Raceway. 11 of the 13 races on the Monday racing program are NYSS events.

The 4 heats of Sire Stakes will race for a purse of $23,750, there is also 3 Excelsior A’s (15,000) events and 4 Excelsior B’s ($6,600). For many of the young pupils, this will be their first start on a half mile oval.

The Hambletonian winning combination of Brain Sears and George Ducharme will sent forth The Veteran, in race 1. The Muscle Mass colt was handy in his last start at Saratoga, where he scored in 1:59.4 in his pari mutual debt, he will score from post position 5.  The 5th race looks to be the dash of the day, the field is comprised of Cruising In Style (Muscle Mass – SOS Respect) who will look to keep his 4-race win streak intact from post 4 for trainer Andrew Harris. Funknpancakes earned his first lifetime win last week at the Big M in 1:56.3 in a 2 YO overnight event, the RC Royalty colt trotted home in 27.2, prior to that he finished 2nd in a NYSS for owner Crawford Farms. Ray Schnittker brings Coach Cummings to the fray from the rail, the Goshen based trainee son of Deweycheatumnhowe colt has 2 Goshen wins under his belt and has proven himself on the half mile. Troller will look to shed his role as bridesmaid from PP 2 for the always dangerous Phil Fluet.

The 3rd split of NYSS comes in race 8, the lone trotter with any ½ track experience is Ronnie Goldstein, who will start from the rail for and trainer - driver Kim Crawford. The Muscle Mass – Barbara Goldstein colt will look to improve his lifetime mark of 2:00.1 taken at Saratoga. From post position 4 Lunar Credit, who finished 2nd 2 starts ago in Sire Stakes action at Tioga Downs will be driven by Jason Bartlett, who won 4 races on a NYSS card last week at Monti. The son of Credit Winner- Lunar Dream is owned by Little E, Geiger, Stolz and Settlemoir.  Purpose Blue Chip with the now healthy Dan Daley will start from the outside 7 hole, the Chapter Seven colt was 2nd in last start at Tioga Downs. 

The final NYSS race features the unbeaten Clive Bigsby, a winner of 3 in a row for trainer George Ducharme, he has 1 Sire Stake win to his credit by his win at Tioga Downs. The Muscle Mass – Northern Flare colt is owned by George Ducharme Stable LLC and Winters Racing Stable.  Fourth Dimension, a $200,00 yearling is looking to extend his win streak after an impressive win at Tioga Down in 1:55.2. The Chapter Seven offspring is trained by Marcus Melander and will be driven by recent hall of Fame Inductee Brian Sears and will start form post position 3.

The 4 splits of the Excelsior A’s will race for a purse of $15,000, the recently red hot Ake Svanstedt, who had a clean sweep recently at Batavia Downs will showcase On The Ropes (PP5) in race 2, he jogged in his last start by 7 lengths to win in 1:56.2 at the Meadowlands.  Helpisontheway will find post 2 more to his liking, last week from the 9 hole at the Meadowlands he was never a factor for trainer Linda Toscano in the 3rd race. A winner in this company Credicone will look for back to back victory’s in the last division of the Excelsior A’s, the Credit Winner colt is owned by Purple Haze Stables LLC.


Post time is 12:50, the weatherman is calling for sunny skies with temperatures in the highs 70’s, the track record for 2 YOTC is 1:58.2, held by Fashion Blizzard, the record for 2 YOTG is 1:58.1 set by Allerage Echo in 2015.