Monticello, NY – The final curtain call of the 2026 New York Sire Stakes Season was held at Monticello Raceway on Monday August 24 and closed out with a bang when Chapter Geo J set a track record of 1:55.1. While the fields may have lacked quantity, it was made up in quality with Read The Room and Chapter Geo J trotting identical miles of 1:55.1, Chapter Geo J eclipsed the former track record by a full second.
The first heat of New York Sire Stakes raced for a purse $56,900 with a field of 4 starters, the 1-9 favorite Read The Room and Ake Svanstedt scoring from post 4 set the tempo the entire mile as the starters were in single file fashion thought the mile with quarters of 29.2, 59, 1:27.3 Read The Room closed with a last quarter of 27.3 score a 1 length win over a fast closing Twin B Seven Sins (J. Bartlett) Sevento was third. Read The Room is a gelded son of Chapter Seven – Debra Hal, and is a is now a 4 time Sire Stakes winner this season and the divisional leader for co-owner – trainer – driver Ake Svanstedt.
The second heat, worth $58,000 had a little more action with 5 starters, Highway Six (J. Gregory) made the top briefly before 4/5 favorite Chapter Geo J (J. Bartlett) took the lead before the opening panel in 28.1 and was still in command at the half in 58.1. Approaching the 5/8 marker Seven Grand and Ake Svanstedt mounted a challenge while Chapter Geo J tripped the beam in 1:27.2 and had a 2-length advantage on the pack and powered home in 1:55.1, setting a new track record for three-year trotting colts, eclipsing the record of 1:56.1 jointly held by Money Macintosh & Neon Lights of 1:56.1. Seven Grand held on for second followed by Highway Six. Chapter Geo J (Chapter Seven – Frannie Hanover) J is owned by Kenneth Jacobs, it was his fifth win on the year, second NYSS for trainer Noel Daley.
Lou John’s Action (Chapter Seven – Magic Carpet) took the sole $20,000 Excelsior Stake in 1:59.4 with a pocket journey behind the pacesetter Chapter Of Life in 1:59.1, he was driven by Jeff Gregory and is trained by John Grasso.
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