Monticello: Buter cleans up in Monday's NYSS action

Tyler Buter drove Ruth Honig and Woolco to victories in the two New York Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old filly trotters that were held on Monday afternoon at Monticello Raceway.

Buter sent Ruth Honig out from post six in the first $52,500 grouping and cleared Rose Run Yowe (Rock Vinci) nearing the 28 4/5 opening quarter. 4-5 favorite Bourbon On Ice (John Stark Jr.) would then give it a first-over try out of third on the way to the 59 2/5 half, but she was rebuffed by Ruth Honig and forced to drop into the pocket prior to the 1:29 1/5 three-quarters.

When Bourbon On Ice went back to the inside, that left Midwind Success (Jordan Stratton) to do the first-up work, and although she was game and put some pressure on Ruth Honig on the final bend, Ruth Honig had more left to give in the lane and pulled away to win by two lengths in 1:58 3/5. Midwind Success ended up second, with Seven Bridges Road (Mark Whitcroft) back in third.

Lucas Wallin trains Ruth Honig, a dauther of Chapter Seven-Lady Grey bred by Jonas Schlabach, for owner Shermay Stables. A $95,000 Standardbred Horse Sale purchase, Ruth Honig has two wins from three career starts, has now earned $38,276, and paid $5.50 to win as the 8-5 second choice.

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In the other $53,500 split, Buter hustled Woolco to the engine from post four but let a two-wide Mari (Jack Killeen) take over the top spot beyond the 29 1/5 opening quarter. Buter then brought Woolco back to the outside approaching the 59 1/5 half, and Woolco forged her way back around Mari before they got to the third turn.

Once she was back on top, Woolco would go on to click off three-quarters in 1:29 2/5, and a 29 second final kicker got her to the wire three lengths ahead of Mari in a 1:58 2/5 performance. Defiant Lady (Jason Bartlett) offered a mild first-over bid out of fifth in the third quarter and ended up taking third.

Woolco, a Chapter Seven-Upside Hanover filly, is a homebred for trainer Bob Krivelin's Hero Stables. She has compiled a record of 2-0-1 from three trips behind the gate, pushed her bankroll to $69,574, and returned $4.30 to win as the even-money favorite.