Racing fans won’t have to wait long to see the Summertime
Lea, arguably the best sophomore pacing filly in the New York Sire Stakes
program this season, when Jimmy Morrill, Jr. jumps up behind her in the first
race on the strong Monticello Raceway program of Wednesday, September 11.
A total purse of over $155,000 is split in the divisions
with just five fillies in Summertime Lea’s split. The other divisions
each for around $52,000 are carded as races five and eight on the 13-race
program and because of just 17 entrants, the luck leans toward the owners
as the other two fields have just six in each one and nearly all starters that
afternoon will get money.
The interesting undercard features four $12,700 splits of 3
year old pacing fillies in the Excelsior Series.
But Summertime Lea seems to be the cream of this years filly
crop. Already with seven wins in10 starts the daughter of Lislea-Donna
Summer has bankrolled over $215,000 this year for owners, the Burke
Racing Stable, Weaver Buscemi, P.A. Baldachino and E. Smith. And last
year Summeftime Lea won eight of nine starts and amassed purses of
over $294,000. She’ll start from the five hole on Wednesday.
In the second $52,000 division Sir Lehigh Z Tam gets the
odds-maker’s nod from post two. The daughter of Art Major-Moss Blue
Chip, a 1:52.3 winner of over $109,00 this year, comes into the
contest off a 1:54.3 triumph in the NYSS at Tioga Downs and will be
driven by Pat Lachance.
However, the may have a tussle from the Bobby
Siegelman-trained Cheyenne Miriam, a nine time winner of $193,000 this
year with a 1:53 mark taken at the Big M earlier this year. Monticello native,
George Brennan will drive the daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Ailbecca when they
start from post four.
The Melissa Beckwith trained Springforth is the early
favorite in the final $52,000 NYSS split. The meet’s leading driver Bruce
Aldrich, Jr. got the mount behind the seven- time winner of $139,000 this
year. Her best effort was a stunning 1:532 mile while winning a NYSS leg
at Batavia Downs on August 21.
Arguably the best filly in the four Excelsior legs appears
to be Venus Delight who has 10 wins in 14 starts while never testing any
of the NYSS fillies. She’s won most of her Excelsior Series starts and had
already bankrolled over $82,000. She’ll be driven by Jimmy Morrill, Jr.
from post five in race six.
The four Excelsior events will be in races two, four, six
and 11. First post will be at 12:50PM
