Monticello: Hat trick for Buter, double for Miller in NYSS

Tyler Buter posted a driving triple and trainer Erv Miller stuck twice in New York Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Monday afternoon at Monticello Raceway.

Buter kicked things off in the first $25,200 flight with Forrest Blu, who lowered the track record for a rookie pacing gelding to 1:54 2/5. He would move from third to first racing to the 57 2/5 half, hit three-quarters in 1:26, and sprint home in 28 2/5 to defeat Bounty Hunter (Brian Sears) by two lengths, with Top Genius (Jordan Stratton) third.

The clocking erased the previous standard of 1:54 4/5 set by Barry Hanover on August 8, 2016.

Forrest Blu, a Roll With Joe-Lima Fairest gelding, is trained by John Butenschoen and owned by breeder Crawford Farms in partnership with Harmony Oaks Racing Stable Inc. and James Crawford IV. This was his third victory from five trips behind the gate, and he has now pocketed $38,025. He paid $3.30 to win.

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In the second $25,650 split, Pickup Man Hanover and Buter sat back in fifth while a quick tempo of 27 4/5 and 56 3/5 was set by Go With The Flow (Stratton). Pickup Man Hanover tipped out two-wide on the third turn, then made a three-wide surge into the lead past the 1:26 three-quarters. It was all Pickup Man Hanover from there as he cruised to a 6 1/2 length decision over Seven Hundred (Mark Beckwith) in a 1:55 4/5 mile. Syracuse Express (Sears) came in third.

Monica Krist trains Pickup Man Hanover, a gelded son of Huntsville-Pilgrims Witchie, for owners Dennis and Simone Noud. Pickup Man Hanover, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, sold for $22,000 at the 2020 Standardbred Horse Sale, and he has now compiled a 2-2-0 record from four tries and put $44,412 in the bank. He returned $3.50 to win.

Stretch The Line gave Buter his third victory and Miller his first in the next $25,650 flight. Stretch The Line took command near the 28 4/5 opening quarter after tipping out of the two-hole and never looked back from there, clicking off a 58 1/5 half and a 1:27 three-quarters en route to an 8 1/4 length triumph in 1:56 1/5. Greg The Leg (Mark MacDonald) was next, followed by Blaz N Chip (Matt Kakaley).

A Huntsville-Jessalilmixup gelding, Stretch The Line is co-owned by Miller in partnership with Rock And Roll Stable Inc.. A $16,000 Goshen Yearling Sale buy that has four wins and $39,167 in earnings, Stretch The Line was bred by Eric Taddeo. He paid $2.20 to win.

KJ Hunter (Kakaley) put up stations of 28 3/5, 57 4/5, and 1:26 1/5 in the last $25,200 tilt, but Miller trainee Flip My Chip (Marcus Miller) stalked from third, went first-over passing three-quarters, surged into the lead in the stretch, and drew off impressively to win by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:54 4/5. Te Amo Blue Chip (Fern Paquet Jr.) was the runner-up, and KJ Hunter held third.

Flip My Chip, a gelding by Heston Blue Chip, is out of Restive Hanover (The Panderosa), and is owned by Ervin Miller Stable Inc. and Sara Miller. Flip My Chip, a Winbak Farm-bred who fetched $20,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has a pair of wins and a third from four appearances, has put away $21,870, and paid $3.60 to win.