Monticello: Fast Choice, Dandy Ideal strike in New York Sire Stakes

Fast Choice and Dandy Ideal gave Jason Bartlett wins in the featured New York Sire Stakes races for 3-year-old male pacers on Monday afternoon at Monticello Raceway.

After leaving quickly from post three, Fast Choice yielded to a two-wide Holt Hanover (Mark MacDonald) past the 27 1/5 quarter in his $58,000 test. Bartlett then re-moved Fast Choice to the front on the way to the 56 1/5 half as Thirsty Thursday (Tyler Buter) began a first-over move out of fifth.

Thirsty Thursday advanced to get stride-for-stride with Fast Choice before the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, and they would continue to battle around the far turn. However, Fast Choice put Thirsty Thursday away for good in the lane and also held safe over a passing lane-rallying Holt Hanover to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:53. Thirsty Thursday had to settle for third.

A Courtly Choice gelding bred by Winbak Farm, Fast Choice is trained by Jared Bako for owner Ashley Bako. He has a summary of 5-1-1 from 11 starts, has earned $296,390 and paid $2.50 to win.

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In the other $59,100 split Dandy Ideal and Bartlett got away in the pocket but came to the outside prior to the 27 4/5 quarter and took over control from Red Blooded (Buter) past that station. From there, Dandy Ideal clicked off a half of 56 3/5 and three-quarters in 1:24 3/5, then kicked home in 27 4/5 to defeat Red Blooded by five lengths in 1:52 2/5. Full Metal Jacket (Leon Bailey) collected third.

Hunter Oakes trains Dandy Ideal, who was bred by Dr. Stephen Dey III and Dandy Farms Inc., for owners Susan Oakes, Thaddeus Wier and Alan Johnston. Dandy Ideal, a gelded son of American Ideal, now has seven wins, four seconds and two thirds from 17 trips behind the gate, has pocketed $243,555 and returned $2.40 to win.