On Monday afternoon May 13, the New York Sire Stakes
Circuit will make its 2019 debut as the glamour division of 3-year-old
pacing colts come to town. Going to post will be 3 divisions of Sire
Stakes ($38,000) 2 splits of the Excelsior A class ($15,000) and 1 Excelsior B
($6,700)
The first division of Sire
Stakes ($38,200) will go to post in race 1 with 7 entries, Hickfromfrenchlick (PP4) has been pegged the
morning line favorite. The So Surreal colt had a very productive year as
a 2-year-old where he earned $138,541 and earned a speed badge of 1:51.3.
Last week he had an easy tightener at Pocono Down where he romped in 1:53.3 to
win by 8 ½ lengths for trainer Ray Schnittker. Local
favorite KJ Leo will start from post 6, last year the Gary Messenger trained
colt won the NYSS Consolation at Yonkers and finished the year with $68,292 in
earnings. This year the Art Major colt won a conditioned race
last week at Monticello Raceway in 1:57.1, regular driver Jim Taggart Jr. will
drive.
The 2nd division of Sire Stakes
features Respect Our Flag who was sharp in his performance 2 weeks ago
where he scored in 1:49.2 at the Meadowlands for trainer Jenn Bongiorno, Joe
Bongiorno will drive the son of Roll With Joe. Sam Schillaci
brings Major Blake to fray, the son of Art Major has had 3 winning
qualifiers under his belt at his home track Northfield Park, Major March will
start from the rail for trainer Linda Toscano, the Art Major colt is owned by
Bay Pond Racing, Jason
Bartlett will drive.
The final heat of Sire
Stakes action is in race 7 and highlights Reigning Deo, the
winner of last year's NYSS final at Yonkers Raceway in 1:54.4, the son of Rock
N Roll Heaven will start from the rail with Jim Morrill Jr. at the helm for
trainer Brett Pelling. After winning the NYSS final last fall, Reigning
Deo dabbled in Grand Circuit competition and finished the year with $243,163.,
ranking him in the top 10 2 YOPC earners.
The Excelsior A, class
first heat highlights Jack Nation (PP4) , the
son of American Ideal took his Lifetime mark as a 2 YO at Monticello Raceway in
1:57 for Blake Macintosh, Mark Macdonald will handle the driving assignment.
