NYSS top 3YO colts score at Monticello

Monticello, NY (July 23, 2024) – Yesterday afternoon Monday July 22nd, the Glamour Division, three-year-old Pacing Colts took center stage at Monticello Raceway in New York Sire Stakes harness racing action with two heats worth $58,100 and $57,000 and four dashes of the $20,000 Excelsior Stakes.

This highly competitive group lived up to their reputation and hype and paced two of the fastest miles all season at the Mighty M with Howlinthehills (American Ideal – Arielle Lynn) just missing the track record by a tick and Boston Rocks (Boston Red Rocks – Scirocco Sarah) scoring a nine-length romp.

Howlenthehills starting from the rail for driver Matt Kakaley went off as the heavy 1/9 betting favorite in his five-horse heat, Texas Holden (Mark Macdonald) left from post five and tried for the lead but was rebuffed by Howlinthehills coming out of the first turn. At this point Escape To America (Jason Barlett) made a break.

Once on top Howlinthehills dictated the pace and clicked the opening panel beam in :28. The pack was in straight alignment at the half in :57.1. Going down the backstretch he started to open a two-length gap as Ameritric (Scott Zeron) pulled from the four hole first-over at the next station that was in 1:25.

Turning for home Howlinthehills was in cruise control and won by six lengths in 1:52.1, his last quarter in :27.1, he had plenty of pace still in the tank, the mile was one tick off of the track record. Sporting an ultra-impressive resume this season the Crawford Farms bred colt notched his seventh win on the year in eight starts for trainer Travis Alexander, the son of American Ideal is owned by Symmetry Stables LLC. of Pleasant Valley, New York.

HOWLINTHEHILLS REPLAY

Boston Rocks controlled his destiny in a straightforward manner and went wire to wire, opening up on his opponents at every station, at the end he won by nine-lengths in 1:52.3 and paid $2.10 to win.  Vandiemen Blue Chip (Braxten Boyd) finished second with Taranaki (Mike Merton) garnering the show position. Jason Bartlett drove for trainer Michael Deters.

It was his second Sire Stakes victory of the year, fourth win on the year, the win pushed his yearly earnings to over $110,000 for owners Rick Berks and Peter Blood.

BOSTON ROCKS REPLAY

In Excelsior Action, Seen Here scored in 1:55.3 – $3.50 after a pocket trip for his fourth Excelsior win with Scott Zeron in the bike. Bruce’s VO N Coke (James Taggart) went wire to wire in 1:54.2 – $9.40 for trainer John Berger.

The 17-1 Dealers Turn (Scott Zeron) scored in 1:54.3 – $36.60 for his first seasonal win for trainer Tom Fanning. Printville 1:54.2 – $2.50 (S. Zeron) earned a new lifetime mark and picked up his first parimutuel win in the process for owner Purple Haze and trainer George Ducharme.

Scott Zeron had a trio of winners on the day, American Ideal was the leading sire with three winning sons and Huntsville with two.

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

From Monticello Raceway