by Shawn F. Wiles, for Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — On Monday (May 11) the New York Sire Stakes makes its first stop of the year at Monticello Raceway. Four divisions of NYSS ($30,450), two divisions of the Excelsior A ($15,000) and two divisions of Excelsior B ($6,600) are on the 14-race card.

The caliber of the entries is indicative of the quality of the New York Sire Stakes program in recent years. At first glance one would think that this was a Grand Circuit event with the likes of Crazy Wow and Habitat.

According to Monticello Race Secretary Eric Warner, “This is an exceptional crop of colts this year and the track record may be in jeopardy.”

The track record for 3-year-old trotting colts is also the all-age track record of 1:55.2, which is held by Gural Hanover.

In the second race, first division of Sire Stakes, Crazy Wow will start from post four. The Ron Burke trained son of Crazed comes into the race after two impressive qualifiers at the Meadowlands. He was the winner of last year’s NYSS final, took a record of 1:54 and has lifetime earnings of $232,928.

In the fourth race, local favorite Hollywoods Thatway will look to defend his three-race Monticello win streak. The son of Conway Hall is trained by Ed Hart, while Billy Parker will be driving.

Habitat, fresh off a victory in the Dexter Cup at Freehold last weekend, will start from post three in race eight. At 2 he earned $534,407, his lifetime earnings are in excess of $600,000 and he has a 2-year-old mark of 1:53.4. His victories last year include the William Wellwood final, Matron Stakes and a Bluegrass Stakes division.

The final division of the Sire Stakes is in race 14 and has two Hambletonian winning owners vying for victory, Malvern Burroughs of Malabar Man fame, and Paul Fontaine, co-owner of 2013 winner Royalty For Life. Burroughs will send forth Mambo Blue Chip, and Fontaine Lucky Ten K for trainer George Ducharme.