Monticello: Pleaseletmeknow with a successful return in NYSS action

Pleaseletmeknow, making his first start since winning the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final at Yonkers, took the first of two $60,300 New York Sire Stakes tilts for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Monday afternoon at Monticello Raceway. JD, the defending sire stakes champion for the division, captured the other split.

After blasting out from the pole position, Roll With The Flow (Mark MacDonald) led early in the opening section, but Pleaseletmeknow (Matt Kakaley) tipped out of third and passed him to take command after the 27 4/5 opening quarter. After taking control, Pleaseletmeknow would click off a half of 56 2/5 and three-quarters in 1:25 4/5, with Roll With The Flow coming out of the pocket on the way to three-quarters.

Roll With The Flow's bid was rebuffed by Pleaseletmeknow on the final bend, and from there, Pleaseletmeknow pulled away, winning by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:53 2/5. Shake It (Jason Bartlett) saved ground on the inside after getting away in third and wound up as the runner-up, and Stretch The Line (Marcus Miller) rallied for third.

An American Ideal gelding, Pleaseletmeknow is trained by Travis Alexander for owner/breeder Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC. He has compiled a record of 9-3-1 from 14 career starts, he has now banked $392,474, and he paid $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favorite.

In the second sire stakes test, JD (MacDonald) left from post five and had to work three-wide and then two-wide to get by Go With The Flow (Jim Taggart Jr.) and Twin B Deluxe (Bartlett) to get to the top beyond the 27 second opening quarter. JD kept the tempo lively to a 55 3/5 half but then got away with just a 30 2/5 third quarter while repelling a first-over move by Go With The Flow.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

JD put Go With The Flow away for good midway through the final bend, and there'd be no catching JD after that, as he went on to win by a length and three-quarters in 1:54 3/5. Huntanover (Tyler Buter) gained from fifth to second in the last quarter, and Blue Collar Man (Dan Daley) turned a second-over journey into a third-place result.

Trainer Ray Schnittker also co-owns JD, a gelded son of So Surreal, with breeder/co-owner George Zitone and their partner Melissa Beckwith. JD has six wins, two seconds, and six thirds from 19 lifetime tries, boosted his bankroll to $230,749, and returned $5.00 to win as the 3-2 favorite.