Monticello, NY — Monticello Raceway’s last leg of New York Sire Stakes action will take place on Monday (Aug. 19) as 2-year-old trotting colts close out the season.

Two divisions of Sire Stakes are featured on the eight-race card. While this may be the last Sire Stakes of the season it may be one of the better fields, as it features former and current Batavia Downs track record holders Bourbon Express and Barn Holder.

Race one on the card is the $51,000 first heat of Sire Stakes action. Bourbon Express has been installed the 4-5 favorite. He won his recent Sire Stakes at Batavia Downs and set the track record in 1:57.3. Before the ink was dry Barn Holden lowered it by two-fifths of a second. He also scored in the same company in Buffalo Raceway. Bourbon Express will start from post three in the short field of five with regular driver Jason Bartlett for trainer Jessica Okusko. The son of RC Royalty-Kasha has earned $78,080 and been on the board in every start for owners Salavtore Vulio, James De Armond and Jessica Okusko.

Beerthirty K will start from the rail. The Bruce Borden trained son of Credit Winner-Venus Hall took his lifetime mark of 1:58 at Yonkers in a NYSS win, defeating Bourbon Express in the process.

Leading point earner Barn Holden will start from post position five for trainer Steve “Barn” Pratt in the $52,000 second division. The son of Conway Hall–Barn Babe has won three Sire Stakes events thus far in his freshman campaign, with the wins coming at Yonkers, Vernon Down and the track record at Batavia Downs in his last start, an 8-3/4 length romp in 1:57.1. Andy Miller will drive the $45,000 Morrisville yearling for owners Steve and Nancy Pratt, Purple Haze and Out In The Country Stable. Barn Holden has earned $90,000 in five starts.

D.R. Ackerman and Tompkins-Geers stakes winner Saylor (Chapter Seven-Creme De Cocoa) will start form the outside post six.

Berkery J (post four) won a division of Sire Stakes early in the season of Yonkers. The son of Chapter Seven-Southwind Catlin is trained by George Ducharme for owner Ken Jacobs. He is a $205,000 yearling purchase.

The current Monticello Raceway track record is 1:58, set by former 2-year-old trotting colt of the year Fourth Dimension. If the weather man cooperates that record may be in jeopardy on Monday.

The Excelsior series has two divisions; the A class will be racing for a purse of $15,000 per heat and the B heats will vie for $6,600 in each heat.

Post time is 12:50 p.m.