Monticello: Three for two special in Sire Stakes action

Monticello Raceway hosted two $61,300 divisions of New York Sire Stakes on Monday afternoon and oddly enough, those races produced three winners. Better Than Happy, Newsday and Wisdom Tree all had their moments in the winner’s circle on the sunny afternoon.

The drama in the Sire Stakes occurred in the first leg. After Apothic set wild fractions of 26 2/5 and 55 2/5, Solitary brushed to the front and led at three quarters in 1:24 1/5. She was flanked by Newsday on the outside and Better Than Happy up the passing lane in the stretch and both would pass her late to settle for a tie for the top spot in 1:53 3/5.

Better Than Happy ($7.20), from the team of Joe (driver) and Jennifer (trainer) Bongiorno, picked up her third career win for owner Joe P Racing LLC.

Newsday ($13.60) overcame bad cover for driver Scott Zeron to pick up her fifth win in two seasons of racing for co-owner/trainer Richie Silverman, Mary Kinsey Arnold, Edward Mcenery and Michael Gluckman.

Just two days after winning the Hambletonian, driver Scott Zeron was still riding the high as he came back to win the second Sire Stake race with Wisdom Tree in wire to wire fashion.

Through fractions of 27 4/5, 56 1/5 and 1:24 4/5, Wisdom Tree cruised around the track and shrugged off the hint of a stretch bid from pocket-sitter Line Dancer to win easily in 1:52 4/5. Alexis Faith finished third.

The final clocking was just one-fifth of a second off the track record.

Owned by Thomas Pollack and Jeffrey Cullipher, Wisdom Tree ($5.90) has compiled an impressive 9 for 12 record in 2018 while mostly under the care of trainer Ed Hart. The daughter of Betterthancheddar has now won three straight New York Sire Stakes races.