Monticello: Sophomore pacing colts take center stage Monday

The “glamour division” 3-year-old pacing colts will visit Monticello Raceway on Monday, July 24. The eight-race card features two divisions of New York Sire Stakes (NYSS), with each split racing for $60,300, and three heats of the Excelsior Series, with each dash worth $20,000. On the line is over $180,000 in total purses.

The first heat of Sire Stakes, featuring the top three point earners in their respective division, is Race 5. Huntinthelastdolar (S. Zeron), the point leader by virtue of his three consecutive NYSS wins, will score from post 7 for trainer Gregg McNair. Alongside him from post 8 is Duval Street (Bartlett). The Huntsville colt is trained by Ed Hart. He scored a NYSS win at Saratoga in 1:52 4/5. Thunder Hunter Joe (Tyler Buter) drew the two-hole. He earned his lifetime mark at Vernon Downs in a Sire Stakes with a 1:49 2/5 score for trainer Nick Devita.

The second division, worth $60,300, is carded as Race 8. Goldin Greatness (PP2) was a winner last week at Yonkers in this company in 1:51 2/5. He will be driven by Jason Bartlett. Blue Hunt (PP5) will be in the thick of things. The son of Huntsville is a bridesmaid this season for trainer Alek Chartrand and will be driven by Joe Bongiorno. I Was Tricked will hail from the rail. A four-time winner this season with a pair of place performances in this class, he will be driven by Scott Zeron.

Excelsior action in Race 2 is the most competitive, with the two top point earners in their division going head-to-head. Boston Bound (PP6), with Matt Kakaley in the sulky, has won twice in this class and was second last time at Yonkers. Bet on Buter has been straddled with the dreaded post 8. He sports a three-race win skein, two of which came in Excelsior action.

Human Cocktail has been installed the early morning-line favorite in his race (4), starting from the rail. The Travis Alexander-trained son of Huntsville was a winner last start out at Yonkers in his division, where he scored in 1:54 3/5. That Dog Will Hunt is looking for a “W” in the win column. He has finished second four times this year for trainer Mike Simons and will start from post 7 with Tyler Buter in the bike. Astaires Arsenal, a son of In The Arsenal, was a winner last year at Monticello in the Excelsior division. A five-time winner this season, he’s seeking his first win in Sire Stakes competition for his trainer, Misty Carey.

In the final heat, Johnny Sack (PP2/Macdonald) has been a model of consistency this year, with three wins and three place finishes in the class in seven starts.

Post time for the eight-race card is 12:10 p.m.

-edited release (Monticello)