Monticello, NY – On Monday (June 2), Monticello Raceway hosted its first New York Sire Stakes of the 2025 season with 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters. Tyler Buter walked away with a driving double, taking the lone $119,700 NYSS event with BJM’s Lil Man and an Excelsior dash aboard Habanero Blues.

BJM’s Lil Man (Devious Man-Vixen) 1:55.4 – $3.50 after winning an Excelsior Stakes in his last start at Vernon Downs, this week he moved up in class with no issue to take a wire-to-wire win for Tyler Buter. After taking the lead past the opening panel from Happy Jack B (Scott Zeron), BJM’s Lil Man set fractions of :28.1, :58, 1:26.3 and came home in :29.1 for the win over Seven Layer (Niko Karna) followed by Seismic Step (Jordan Stratton).
Trained by John Berger for owner Joe Meaney, and bred by Donald LaPage, BJM’s Lil Man extended his winning streak to three.
Habanero Blues (EL Titan-Habanero Honey) 1:58.1 – $6.60 enjoyed a pocket journey throughout as Low Inside (Dan Daley) set the tempo. Turning for home Habanero Blues was able to slide up the passing lane to get the advantage of Low Inside. Logo (Brett Beckwith) got up for third. For the Travis Alexander trainee it was his second consecutive win in the year. He is owned by breeder Fiddler’s Creek Stables.
After finishing second five times this year, John Stark Jr. and Doctor Strange at 12-1 finally got the win and took the final heat of the $20,000 Excelsior Stakes with a 1:58.2 – $26.40 score over the favorite Big City Elwood (Ridge Warren) and Security Code S (Stratton). The son of Met’s Hall–Flotus is also trained and partially owned by Stark and got his first seasonal win and a new lifetime record.