Monticello: Post one starters sweep in New York Sire Stakes

The rail draw is usually advantageous on half-mile tracks, and that was certainly the case in the three New York Sire Stakes splits for 3-year-old pacing colts on Monday afternoon at Monticello Raceway, as horses starting from the pole position went three-for-three.

Topville Olympian (Jordan Stratton), who was sixth in his North America Cup elimination on June 9 kicked off the card with a 1:55 victory in his $39,200 section. He showed the way through stations of 28 3/5, 58 2/5, and 1:26 4/5 and got to the wire a length ahead of pocket-sitter Mr Profeta (Jason Bartlett). Twin B Tuffenuff (Mark MacDonald) held third after a first-over try.

Dave Menary trains the winner, a gelding by American Ideal, for owners Menary Racing Inc., Billy Timmins, Anthony Timmins, and Crawford Farms Racing. This was Topville Olympian's third career victory, and he has now earned $122,382. He was the 5-2 second choice and paid $7.00 to win.

Rockapelo (Marcus Miller) looked strong on the lead through fractions of 26 4/5, 55 4/5, and 1:24 3/5 in the second $39,900 grouping, but Ghost Dance (Scott Zeron) came up the passing lane from the pocket in the stretch and won by three-parts of a length in 1:54 4/5. Ostro Hanover (Jim Taggart Jr.) brushed from fifth to third in the final quarter.

The victorious American Ideal colt is trained by Eric Adams for owner/breeder Millar Farms. Ghost Dance is now a four-time winner in his life, and he pushed his bankroll to $55,920. He was dispatched at 5-1 and returned $12.60 to win.

In the final $39,200 flight, it would be Rock Lights (Zeron) on top at the 28 second opening quarter, the 56 2/5 half, and 1:25 three-quarters, but he wilted in the lane. Rootin Tootin (MacDonald), who had worked out the two-hole trip, found space in the stretch between the fading pace-setter and a first-up My Delight (Miller), and he would surge through, defeating a rallying Handsoffmychip (Bartlett) by half a length in 1:53 4/5. My Delight checked in third.

Rootin Tootin, who raced in the North America Cup eliminations but had all chance taken away when he suffered broken equipment early on, is trained by Blake MacIntosh, who also co-owns with Stuart McIntosh, Fred Brayford, and Robert MacNeil. The Roll With Joe colt sports a record of 7-0-3 from 16 trips behind the gate, and he has put away $92,916. He was a 4-1 offering and paid $10.00 to win.