The majority
of the 72 2-year-old colts and geldings were on their best behavior Monday
afternoon July 9 at Monticello Raceway, 4 divisions of Sire Stakes were
contested, each offering a purse of $27,750. Also on tap were 4 Excelsior
A’s worth $15,000 per dash and 2 Heats of the Excelsior B, each worth $6,500.
In the first
division, Brian Sears aboard Gimpanzee took control
of the fractions after taking the lead past the ¼ in 31.0 and continued to take
the pack thru fraction of 1:02, 1:32.2 on his way to a 1 length victory in
2:02.4. Gimpanzee is trained by Marcus Melander for owner Courant Inc. and SRF
Stable of Delray Beach. The $170,000 son of Chapter 7 notched his first
lifetime win. Leap Year Lucky (Dan Daley) was second, followed by Light
Come On (Scott Zeron)
The second
heat saw Pushthebuttonmax take the field of 8 to the ¼ in 30.2, and the half in
1:01.0, the eventually race winner Keystone Cash was the first to pull at the
half first over. As the pack headed down the back side the second time,
Taker aboard Keystone Cash were in control at the ¾ in 1:30 and put a quick 3
lengths on the rest of the field and held on for the win by 2 lengths in
1:59.3. The son of Chapter 7 is owned by Howard Taylor, Judith Taylor and
Order By Stable.
Race 6 was
the 3rd heat of NYSS, Scott Zeron and Jake
G’s Champion looked to score a wire to wire win as he was the first to trip
the first 2 beams in 30.2 and 1:01.4. Certify (Claude Hukabone Jr.) was the
first to the ¾ in 1:32.1. Jimmy Marohn Jr. who had been wrangling with JNR
Express (PP7) the entire mile, was full of trot in the paddock turn and
continued his attack and overtook Certify by a slim head in 2:01.4.
Getting no respect from the betting public JNR Express, returned $61.50.
The son of Conway Hall is trained by Jessica Okusko. Certify held on for 2nd
and the early pacesetter
Jake G’s Champion finished 3rd.
Down the
road was the rule of the day, and Ake Svanstedt did just that with his pupil
Cavill Hanover, the son of Muscle Mass scored a well in hand win in 2:02.4 for
owner’s Little E LLC, Vanersol Inc and Wolfgang Stable. Our White Knight
(Scott Zeron) was 2nd followed by Fashion For Credit from the 8
hole.
In one of
the afternoons more impressive races, Mr. Vicktor trotted
his middle half in 58.2 for driver Jim Morrill Jr. and won by 15 lengths in his
Excelsior A race in 2:00 for trainer and part owner Buzzy Sholty. The son of RC
Royalty will be looking to shed his Excelsior company and take on all comers
next start for owners Joe Lee and Diamond Pride Stable.
Crazy Every
Time lit up the tote in his Excelsior B heat, the son of Crazed scored from the
3 hole in 2:03 and paid $88.00 for win. Other winners on the card were
Speeding Moose (Dan Daley) in 2:08.1, Praying Angel (Jim Morrill Jr.) in
2:02.4, Frank Hanover (Claude Hukabone Jr.) 2:07.4, Trond Smedshammer scored
with 2 Purple Haze horses Bazillionare in 2:03.1 and Charismo in 2:07.1. Next
up on the Sire Stakes calendar is 3 Year Old Trotting Colts on Monday July 16.
