Monticello: Annie O, Cowboy Candy cruise in New York Sire Stakes

Annie O and Cowboy Candy were dominant victors of a pair of $52,500 New York Sire Stakes division that headlined Monday afternoon's program at Monticello Raceway.

Driven by Leon Bailey in the first split, Annie O won by seven lengths in 1:55 2/5 after she led through fractions of 29 3/5, 59 and 1:27. After sitting third, 3-5 favorite Maxina (Greg Merton) was able to get around Win Me Over (Braxten Boyd) to take over a loose pocket spot as the field raced through the backstretch for the final time, but she would have to settle for runner-up honors at the wire, while Win Me Over wound up third.

A daughter of Huntsville, Annie O is co-owned by trainer Andrew Stafford with Bonnie Benson. The Southwind Farms-bred has a summary of 2-0-0 from five outings, has pocketed $63,996 and paid $6.72 to win.

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Cowboy Candy improved to five-for-five in the New York Sire Stakes program this year and just missed the track record for the group by a fifth of a second after a 1:54 3/5 tally in the other section.

Jordan Stratton picked up the drive for the injured Jason Bartlett and floated away from the outside post four before he powered Cowboy Candy up to take control away from Phast Phyllis (Bailey) beyond the 27 2/5 quarter. From there, Cowboy Candy got to the half in 56 3/5, repelled a first-over attack from Clear Choice (Boyd) on the way to the 1:26 1/5 three-quarters, then kicked away to defeat Phast Phyllis by 3 3/4 lengths. Huntsvilles Honey (Matt Kakaley) was up for third.

Aaron Lambert trains Cowboy Candy, a daughter of So Surreal bred by Eric Taddeo, for owner Chain Lightning Stables LLC. She has five wins and a second from six appearances, has put away $151,200 and returned $2.46 to win.

Winning three $20,000 New York Excelsior Series events on the card were:

--Prop Bet (by American Courage and bred by owner Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC., paid $2.10 to win) in 1:56 2/5 for driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Travis Alexander;

--Where Is The Love (by Huntsville and bred by Knutsson Trotting Inc., paid $11.40 to win) in 1:55 4/5 for driver Lauren Tritton, trainer Linda Toscano and owners Steven Held and Bill Elliott;

--Spider Claire (by So Surreal and bred by co-owner/trainer Paul Roy with co-owner Ersilia Roy, paid $4.40 to win) in 1:56 4/5 for driver Matt Kakaley.