by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — When it gets deep in the New York Sire Stakes season the number of entries are diminished in all divisions with usually only the cream of the crop, or those who think they have a legitimate chance to win, entered.

That seems to be the case at Monticello Raceway for the $180,000 NYSS for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Monday afternoon, August 23. Only 17 fillies entered which forced Eric Warner, the track’s Director of Racing, to split that number into three short- field $60,000 divisions which will go as races one, four and eight that day.

The current queen in this year’s events arguably is Galimony, whose five wins and three seconds in nine starts this season has bankrolled over $273,000 for the Stake Your Claim Stable. One of the Artiscape filly’s victories was in the Tompkins-Geers stakes at Tioga Downs on July 16 which she won in 1:53.2. But her overall seasonal mark is 1:52.2.

Trainer Linda Toscano will hand the lines to Jimmy Morrill, Jr. and Galimony has been installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the five-horse first race on the afternoon’s card.

Morrill will also handle Bob Horowitz and Steve Demeter’s Max’s Leading Lady, the early favorite in the second split which will go as race four. The daughter of Art Major, herself a $124,000 winner thus far this year, owns a 1:55 record taken over Pocono Downs’ five-eighths-mile oval but her ascension to victory may prove a little tougher than Galimony’s when she tangles with Barks Like A Dog (Ray Schnittker), Enduring Light (Jason Bartlett) and Love And Honor (D.R. Ackerman) in her division.

The final division appears to be the most competitive. With the likes of Androvette (Jason Bartlett), Chatty Kathy (Corey Braden), Angel From Above (Jimmy Morrill, Jr.) and Linda’s Bandita (Howard Parker) locking horns, racing luck will probably determine the winner.

The 15-race extravaganza will get underway at 12:50 p.m.