By:
Shawn Wiles
On Monday May 13, the
New York Sire Stakes made their first stop of the year at
Monticello Raceway for 3
Year Old Pacing Colts, the
conditions were less than ideal as it was a cold, rainy raw day
that was reminiscent of a fall day and certainly not
the middle of May.
Hickfromfrenchlick, the Ray Schnittker trained son of So Surreal started from post
position 4 and went off the 1/5 odds on favorite in the 6 - horse
field. Hickfromfrenchlick (Mark Macdonald) lead
the pack every step of the way, reeling off even rated fractions of 28.2, 58.1
1:28.1, American Mercury (Tim Tetrick) were the first to move down the backside
as the outer flow developed with Stone Hanover right behind him. It
looked like Hickfromfrenchlick was going in for an
easy layup but American Mecury was not done yet as the duo paced home
strong, but Hickfromfrenchlick rebuffed American Mercury by a scant neck to
score in 1:55, pacing his last ¼ in 27 in the fastest mile of the
afternoon. Stone Hanover finished 3rd,
coming home in 26.4. Hickfromfrenchlick is owned by Ray Schnittker, Nolamaura Racing LLC and TC Spatorico.
In the second heat of Sire Stakes, it
was a race of the Major’s, Major Blake left fast from post 4 from the gate but
decided to take the 2- hole tuck as Major
March from the rail cut the steady fractions of 28.2,58.1 1:26.4, Respect The
Flag and Astarie angled out past the ¾ maker in an effort to
start tracking down Major Blake, but their efforts were thwarted as he coasted
to a 2 length victory in 1:55. Major March is trained by soon to be Hall
of Famer Linda Toscano, the Art Major – Mach You And Me colt
is owned by Bay Pond Racing Stable of Malvern, PA. Major Blake
was 2nd and Astaire finished
3rd
The highly touted Reigning Deo highlighted the last heat of
Sire Stakes in the 6th race, the Rock N
Roll Heaven colt started from the rail and was the 3/5 favorite going to post.
Dealer’s Table (PP4) and Jason Bartlett cut the soft fractions to the ¾ pole
29.3, 59.3 1:28.1. Rollwithpapajoe (T. Buter) was the first to
come off the rail approaching the half, he continued the overland route with no
cover. Heading for home he rolled to an easy 3 length win over Reigning
Deo held on for 2nd place followed by
Covered Bridge. Rollwithpapajoe is trained Jenn
Bongiorno, The Roll With Joe colt is owned by Barbara Bongiorno, BK
Lambos and D. Libertos.
The Excelsior A contest’s saw Shim (American ideal – Feel
Life) leave the gate unhurried to rally over Caviart Cale in 1:58.3 for
Trainer – Driver and part owner Pat Lachance, in the second A class Surreal Art
(So Surreal – Artcotic) was content to sit the pocket while Shanghai Bobby cut
the mile. It was a good battle down the lane between the two but Surreal Art hung on for a neck victory
over Shanhai Phil in 1:55.1
Sire Stats for the afternoon showed American
Ideal and So Surreal both had 2 winners, Jason Bartlett and Patrick LaChance
each had a driving double on the chilly afternoon. $461,000 was wagered
on the 8- race card for a per race average of $57,625.
