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.
