On Wednesday evening July 4th Monticello Raceway
will host the first seasonal divisions of freshmen pacing colts and geldings in
both the New York Sire Stakes and the new Excelsior Series (formerly late
closers).
The NYSS colts will be vying for points which they
will gain along the way competing at various racetracks in NY State . The
top eight, when the divisions are completed, will earn a berth in the $175,000
New York Sire Stakes Final at Yonkers Raceway on September 22.
As far as the Excelsior Series goes, the top eight point
earners will battle in the $45,000 finale which will be raced at
Saratoga Raceway on September 21
Over $200,000 is up for grabs for the New
York-bred freshman pacing colts and geldings on Wednesday evening July 4th
with a special 5:30pm post time.
The NYSS $145,000 will be split six divisions while five
divisions of the Excelsior Series will each race for a $12,700
purse.
According to program director John Flynn, who also makes the
morning line, “It’s no easy task trying to tab these youngsters, most of
whom have only a few charted lines on the program.”
Arguably the most competitive of the NYSS events is
race number three which features Odds On Equuleus, Swift As A Shadow, and
Dealmaker. Each has been victorious this year but none in a pari-mutuel
contest. Odds On Equuleus has two wins in two starts in baby
races at the Big M, the fastest a 1:55.1 effort on June 16. Hall of Famer, John
Campbell will be back in the silky when the colt leaves from post seven.
Swift As A Shadow, a 1:57.1 was winner on June 16 will have Tim
Tetrick at the lines while Larry Stalbaum’s Dealmaker sports a 1:56 mark taken
Pocono Downs on June 28.
Then in the sixth race two good looking prospects, Deny Deny
Deny and The Price you Pay will lock horns. The former has two wins in two
Meadowlands baby race starts and will again have Tim Tetrick at the
controls. The latter, won his second baby race start in 1:56.2 at Gateway,
and Cat Manzi will do the driving.
In the eighth race, three undefeated colts, Tijuana Party,
Art Bettor Now and Visa Viper, will go head to head. Art Bettor Now with
Jeff Gregory aboard won a pari-mutuel contest in 1:57 over
Saratoga Raceway’s half mile track on June 15th.Visa Viper (Mark
MacDonald) copped his only a qualifying event at Tioga Downs in 1:57.3
and Tijuana Party (Tim Tetrick) has won two baby races at Harrah’s
Philadelphia , the fastest in 1:56.3. But they’ll have to content with
Manhattan Benny who won a Landmark Stakes at Historic Track in 2:00.2 on June
29. Stephane Bouchard will again be the colt’s pilot.
And in the 11th race Ray Schnittker’s Thirty Two
Red, a 1:56.3 Landmark Stakes winner at Historic track on June 29 will be
the one to beat in that contest.
But the real attraction for local railbirds will be the
influx of top drivers coming here to race the colts. Add the
names of Jason Bartlett and Pat Lachance to the aforementioned top
drivers who’ll be here that night for the racing action.
Remember post time on July 4th will be at 5:30pm
and about 20 minutes after the 11th and final race a great fireworks
show will entertain the attending fans.
