As Monticello Raceway announcer Howard Oil would say "they're coming from everywhere" that's what race Secretary Eric Warner thought when he opened the box for the harness racing 3 Year old Trotting Colts for Monday July 17. He had 52 entries in the box, forming 3 regular division of Sire Stakes ($39,200) 3 heats of the Excelsior A class ($15,000) and 2 Excelsior B's ($6,000) in total racing for purses in excess of $175,000.
Dexter Cup winner Lord Cromwell will get the action started in the first race on the card, he will start from post 3 in the 6 horse field. The Ed Hart trained son of Chapter Seven – Oh Oh Its Magical already has $110,000 on his card this year and a mark of 1:55 taken in his Dexter Cup victory. Dunbar Hill has the fastest lifetime mark of the group 1:54.1 taken at an overnight at Mohawk, this will be his test in Sire Stakes company. Texican and Royal Casanova are moving up from the Excelsior A class and trying their luck in the big league.
The second division on paper looks to be the race of the day, with the track record jeopardy, the record is 1:56.3 set in 2015 by Habitat. Swedish trainer Anette Lorentzon brings the razor sharp Guardian Angel AS to the contest, an easy 8 length NYSS winner last week at Buffalo in 1:57.1 and a 12 length romp at Yonkers in 1:56.3, 2 starts prior. The Archangel – Provide As filly has 5 wins and a 2nd in 7 starts this year and $77,000 in earnings. Optimist Blue Chip has visited the winners circle 5 times already this year, his last win came at Saratoga in 1:55 2 weeks ago for trainer Buzzy Sholty. A winner earlier in the year in the Excelsior A's, this will be his first attempt at the regular Sire Stakes. Bruce Aldrich Jr. will be in the bike.
Race 8 features Eye OFA Tiger AS, the interesting home bred son of Chapter Seven – Seven Cascade – Mack Lobell, is owned by ACL Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson. She will be driven by Jason Bartlett and will start from post 2, she sports a 3 race win steak, and his start was a NYSS win at Buffalo in 1:57.2. The consistent Stick With Me Kid (PP4) with Brian Sears will also be in the fray for trainer George Ducharme.
The first Excelsior A heat come in race 3, DW's Revenge (PP7) has 2 wins in this class thus far this year, a 5 time winner this year, recent Hall of Famer inductee Brian Sears will be in the bike. Race 7, pits 3 A class winners in the same dash, Sweetchap (PP3), Patton (PP6) and morning line favorite Big Man EV (PP4). The last spilt of the A class, comes in race 10, Southwind Cruze and Andy Miller from the rail are the 5/2 morning line favorite by virtue of his 2 consecutive 2nd place finishes in this class.
In the 2nd race, the uniquely colored New York Chrome, will start from post position 4 in the 7 horse field, in the Excelsior B class. The son of Deweychetumnhowe was a winner last year at Monticello and took his 2 year old mark of 2:01.3. The chestnut gelding won in the same fraternity 2 starts ago at Buffalo.
Post Time for the 13 race card is 12:50
By: Shawn Wiles