Junior trotting fillies roll into Monticello Monday

Monticello, N.Y. – The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) harness racing season at the Mighty M has just three legs remaining. On Monday, August 7, the three-year-old trotting fillies roll into town with two splits of NYSS worth $60,000 each and two dashes of $20,000 Excelsior stakes.

Gigi Hanover (PP2) has been taking on the best fillies in the nation, with place finishes in the Zweig and Empire Breeders Classic, and a NYSS, earning $86,521. She is trained by Ake Svanstedt and will be driven by Mark MacDonald. Top reinsman Jeff Gregory brings his Canterbury Hanover to the fray. Starting from the rail, the daughter of Chapter Seven was a winner last start out at Saratoga in the company in 1:57.2.

The local connection is Woolco, who set her two-year-old record last season at Monticello Raceway. She’s owned, trained, and driven by Goshen native Robert Krivelin. She has worked her way up the ladder. After two wins and a second in Excelsior company, she has been successful tackling this group with one Sire Stakes win at Buffalo her last start out in 1:58. She finished second in her last outing at Saratoga with this group. Gigi Hanover and On the House (PP7 – MacDonald) will race as a separate betting interest.

The second heat of Sire Stakes, Race 8, features the top point leader of the group, Royal Filly, who will hail from the rail with Tyler Buter in the bike. She is owned by Crawford Farm and is trained by Tony Alagna. Her resume includes wins in the Empire Breeder Classic and a Sire Stakes race score last week in Saratoga in a swift 1:55.2. Destiny’s Darling (PP7) is a two-time winner in the Excelsior division. She moved up in class last week and was third in a NYSS race at Saratoga. She will be driven by Jordan Stratton.

Excelsior action is carded as Races 3 and 5. In the first heat, Serendipity (PP5), the point leader in this class, has won two Excelsior races this season at Saratoga and Buffalo. She will be driven by Marcus Miller. Five Fish Species (PP2) has been installed as the betting co-favorite with Mark MacDonald in the sulky. The second heat features In Italian, who is a full sister to the heralded Atlanta 6 – 1:49 $3,533,707. She was the seventh highest yearling ever with a sale purchase price of $750,00. She is seeking her first win of the year and will start from post 3 with Jordan Stratton at the helm. Seven Bridges Road (PP2) was a winner in her last outing with this bunch at Saratoga in 1:58.4.

Post time is 12:10 p.m.

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting results.

by Kimberly Winston, for Monticello Raceway