Trotting colts in NYSS action Monday

Monticello, N.Y. – Monticello Raceway will host the fourth harness racing leg of New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) on Monday, August 1, when the two-year-old trotting colts visit the famed Catskill Mountains oval.

On tap are two heats of NYSS, going for a purse of $54,500 in each division. The card also includes two heats of Excelsior A Class, racing for a purse of $15,000, and two classes of Excelsior B for $6,500. In total, more than $140,000 is up for grabs.

Installed as the 5/2 morning line favorite is Wild Bill Keslo (Crazy Wow) from post three. He has a Sire Stakes win at Buffalo Raceway in 2:01.2.  He will be driven by Wally Hennessey for trainer Jim Campbell.

The Gruffalo (Chapter Seven) is the points leader in his division by virtue of his back-to-back NYSS wins at Saratoga and Vernon, where he scorched the track and took his lifetime record of 1:56.4. He is trained by Mark Harder. He will score from post 6 with Tyler Buter in the bike. Barney Goldstein (Crazy Wow) in post two has also earned a Sire Stakes blanket with a win at Saratoga in 2:01.2.

The second heat goes for $53,500 with a full field of eight. The Strawboss (Conway Hall) comes into the race with a pair of place performances in NYSS competition. The Joe Skowyra-trained colt will start from Post Position 8 and will be driven by Jimmy Devaux.

Met Your Request (Met’s Hall) is the co-favorite. The colt made a miscue in his last start at Vernon Downs, but he was a winner in his prior start at Saratoga and was a winner in the Excelsior series at Buffalo. Tyler Miller will handle the driving for trainer Julie Miller.

Kierkegaard K (Chapter Seven) will benefit from the inside post position this week, where he will start from Post 3. In his prior starts, he was saddled with the outside post and was always on the hunt.   Ake Svanstedt will drive for owners Knutsson Trotting of Delray Beach, Florida.

The track record for this group is 1:58, which is held by Fourth Dimension, who was the voted 2017 Two-Year-Old Trotter of the Year.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Kimberly Winston, for Monticello Raceway