Monticello: Freshman pacing colts on tap Monday

The fourth leg of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) program will get underway on Monday July 27 at Monticello Raceway, with two-year-old pacing colts will go to the gate. There will be one division of Sire Stakes worth $108,300 and 4 divisions of the Excelsior class, each worth $20,000.

The Sire Stakes dash has 7 starters carded as race 5 on the 11 race card. Missing is the division point leader, Beatle Blue Chip who was not entered. Maries Jet from post position 4 with Jason Bartlett in the bike has been installed the morning line favorite by virtue of his second-place finish in his last Sire Stakes outing where he finished second to Beatle Blue Chip. He was a winner of a NYSS 2 starts back in Buffalo in 1:56 2/5. The son of Roll With Joe – R Marie Hanover is trained by Aaron Lambert. 

Bastonata Blue Chip (American Courage – Ascending) will start from Post 7 with Brent Holland in the bike. He scored in his Sire Stake debut at Buffalo in 1:55 4/5 and finished second in his last start in this company. Clear Deal (American Ideal - Clara) has picked up a check in every start; he will start from post 5 with Leon Bailey in the bike for trainer Chuck Connor Jr.

The Excelsior class is highlighted by Twin B Wildfire (Huntsville – Twin B Fabulous) will score from post position 4 in his 7 horse contest. The freshman colt is the Excelsior point leader after a 1:57 1/5 win at Buffalo and a second place finish at Vernon Downs; he will be driven by leading Sire Stakes driver Jason Bartlett.

The existing track record for freshmen pacing colts was set by Groovin Will 1:54 1/5 set in 2024, 

Post Time for the card is 12:10 P.M. EDT.

-edited release (Resorts World/Monticello)