by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — On Wednesday (Sept. 29) at Monticello Raceway, Ray Schnittker won two of the four New York Sire Stakes Late Closer trots for 2-year-old colts and geldings and Dan Daley and Zeke Parker each won a division. Each of the four winning colts had an easy time getting to the winner’s circle.

Schnittker, enjoying the most prolific season thus far in his career, reined Hellogottagobuhbye to an easy wire-to-wire, five length triumph in a time of 2:04.4 in the first division. The Dream Vacation colt, owned by Ty Agosta, ran away and hid from Chrome Finish (Ron Abbott) and Zigaro (Jim Marohn, Jr.). It was Hellogottagobuhbye’s fourth win in eight lifetime starts.

Geri Schwarz photo

All In Tad was a 2:02.3 winner for Ray Schnittker.

Schnittker also captured the third split with All In Tad in a creditable 2:02.3 clocking. In that event Schnittker sat back in third position while Brian Cross and Nowerland Coldcash cut the early fractions and then moved as the field passed the third stanza.

From there All In Tad and Nowerland Coldcash raced as a team around the final turn and in the stretch Schnittker’s colt trotted to the lead and then held off a late charge from Cashahalliic, driven by Mike Simons. Nowerland Cash ended up third.

All In Tad, a son of Conway Hall owned by Schnittker, Dr. John Egloff, Gareth Dowse and Steve Demeter, notched his third win in eight starts.

Dan Daley’s good looking son of Conway Hall, Daleydaydream, who has more than held his own against the good colts competing in the NYSS trots, didn’t have any trouble handling the late closer colts. Daleydaydream scored a three length victory in a time of 2:03.3 despite the fact that he made a break before the start and had to make up the nine lengths he spotted the field. John Stark, Jr. finished second with Cash Poor and Palifornia Dream took home the show dough for Mike Miller.

Ann-Marie Daley, Richard Lombardo, and Albert Crawford are the proud owners of the winner who notched his third lifetime victory and raised his seasonal bankroll to over $51,000.

The final NYSS Late Closer division saw Zeke Parker guide the lightly raced Dream Vacation gelding Winona to an easy three length triumph in 2:02.2, which turned out to be the fastest clocking of the four Late Closer splits.

Once they made the front — before the quarter — Parker put Winona on cruise-control and they never had a serious challenge en route to the victory. Smart Bills and Dan Daley finished second while Schnittker and Petraeus marched home third best.

The Howard Okusko-trained Winona scored his third triumph in his five lifetime starts. He’s owned by the Perry Racing Stable.