Monticello Raceway hosts NYSS Monday

Monticello, NY – The New York Sire Stakes makes it first stop at Monticello Raceway this season on Monday June 4th as 3-year-Old Trotting Fillies take center stage. The entire 11 race program consists of all NYSS eligible performers, 4 heats of Sire Stakes racing for a purse of $30,450, 5 divisions of the Excelsior A's ($15,000) and 2 splits of the Excelsior B's vie for a purse of $7,200.

Sire Stakes action starts quickly in the first race, Fury Road, coming off a 2nd place finish to stable mate Lucky Ava in the EBC at Tioga Downs last start will start from the outside at post 6 for Ake Svanstedt and has been installed the 5-2 favorite. The daughter of Muscle Mass earned $143,895 at 2, Fury Road was victorious in her NYSS division at Yonkers on May 8.

She was victorious in her division last year as a 2 YO at Monticello Raceway where she scored in 2:00.4. The perpetual bridesmaid to her stable mate Lucky Ava, Fury Road finished 2nd in the $225,000 NYSS Final last fall at Yonkers Raceway. Tribute To Seven will score from post 2, she finished 2nd in NYSS company at Yonkers in early May, Scott Zeron will get his first drive behind the daughter of Chapter 7 for trainer Linda Toscano. Pleasepleasepleas (PP3) was sharp in her last start at Tioga Downs where she won in 1:58.1 in overnight company.

Race 6, 2nd division of NYSS features the Queen of the Prom, Lucky Ava, the NYSS Final Champion last year at Yonkers where she took her 2-year-old mark of 1:58.2. The Lucky Chucky offspring comes into in the race with lifetime earnings of $239,339. She won the EBC consolation last week in Vernon in 1:53.4, regular driver Ake Svanstedt will drive.

Reining Monticello Raceway 2-year trotting filly track record holder Lima Novelty (1:57.3) will score from post 3 for trainer Linda Toscano. The Chapter 7 Lass is owned by Ken Jacobs and will be driven by Scott Zeron. She finished 3rd in her first NYSS event of the year earlier at Yonkers Raceway.

The 3rd heat comes in race 7, the field of 7 are a well-matched group, Special Miss, (Lucky Chucky) the Lady Suffolk winner at Yonkers on May 5th will score form post position 3 and will benefit from Jim Morrill Jr. in the bike. The classy Jordan Blue Chip (PP6) has a Sire stake win under her belt already this year at Yonkers will be driven by Scott Zeron. The dependable Supergirl Riley (PP7) and Natalie Hanover (PP5) also figure to be in the hunt.

The ultra-consistent Somedew Somedont will start from post 5 in the afternoons last NYSS event, race 8. The offspring of Deweycheatumnhowe has finished in the top 3 in 11 of 13 lifetime starts for co-owner and trainer Dale Lawton of Verona NY, top Monticello Raceway driver Jim Devaux will handle the driving chores.

A pair of bluebloods, each out of a former 2-Year-old Trotting Filly of the Year will also be in the hunt. Ciao Dolce, a $300,000 yearling, out of the crack mare Pizza Dolce will start from post 2 for Ake Svanstedt, the future blueblood broodmare is still seeking a lifetime mark. Mooshka Stride, the first foal of Check Me Out, a $260,000 yearling purchase will score from the 4 hole. The Credit Winner Filly is trained by Mark Harder and will be driven by Scott Zeron. Mooshka Stride sports a LT mark of 1:55 taken at 2.

The track record for 3 YOTF is 1:56.1 and is shared by Gerri's Joy and Goosebump Hanover, although the record may not be in jeopardy as the weatherman is not cooperating and is calling for rain, Post Time is 12:50.

by Shawn Wiles, for Monticello Raceway