Monticello, NY — When Race Secretary Eric Warner opened the overflowing box for 2-year-old filly trotters, there was no shortage of entries for Monday’s (Aug. 14) stakes races at Monticello, with a total of 42. When he put the card together, he had three divisions of New York Sire Stakes and four Excelsior Series splits.

The action starts right away with a five-horse $34,500 NYSS contest in race one. Trainer Tony Alagna has a pair of place finishes in Sadbirdstillsing’s (post three) recent outings in the Kindergarten and a NYSS race at Tioga Downs. Tyler Buter will drive.

Seven Year Itch (Jordan Stratton) has been consistent all season, never missing a check. The daughter of Chapter Seven is the co-favorite. She’s trained by Vernon Beachy and will score from post five.

Sister Mary Maude is the top point earner in her division. Bill Burke photo.

Race five, for a purse of $35,200, showcases Sister Mary Maude, the queen of the division. The top point earner in her division, she’s drawn the rail with Joe Bongiorno handling the driving chores for trainer Ron Burke. The offspring of Crazy Wow is seeking her fifth consecutive win after impressive Sire Stakes scores at Tioga Downs, Saratoga and Buffalo. She has earned almost $60,000 in her freshman campaign thus far.

Moving up in class is Twilight Deo (Jeff Gregory). She made a break in her last outing, but prior to that she finished second in two Excelsior Stakes.

Communion Money (post two) is seeking her second Sire Stakes win on the year. She scored at Buffalo in 2:00.3 in late June. Jason Bartlett will drive.

In the $35,200 final Sire Stakes dash, Senorita Palema (post five) has one Sire Stakes blanket in her trunk after a win at Saratoga three starts back in 1:57. Since then, she has finished second in her last two starts for trainer Ake Svanstedt. She will be driven by Mark MacDonald.

Karolina Solveig (Bongiorno/post four) sports a two-race win skein in Excelsior company. Per Engblom is her trainer.

After one Sire Stakes win earlier in the season, Crowbar Girl is looking to regain her winning ways from post six with David Miller in the sulky for Burke.

Also on the card are four divisions of the Excelsior Series, with each dash worth $20,000. The standout among them all is the undefeated Barn CJ (Bartlett) hailing from post four in the first division. She has recorded impressive wins at Yonkers in a seven-length romp, Tioga Downs, Saratoga and Buffalo Raceway. The daughter of Crazy Wow is trained by Steve Pratt.

Marcus Melander has Dozen (post one) with Buter. The Chapter Seven filly was a winner in her last outing in this class at Yonkers in 1:59.1 for owners Diamond Creek Racing.

Pratt has another nice filly in Barn Dreamer (post six/race four). In three starts, she has wins at Tioga and Saratoga in this class and has banked $25,000 thus far in the season.

The track record of 1:57.3 for 2-year-old fillies is held by Lima Novelty and was set in 2017.

Post time for the ten-race card is 12:10 p.m.