by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Over $292,000 is up for grabs for freshman pacing colts in the New York Sires Stakes on Thursday afternoon (August 23) at Monticello Raceway.

Six $49,000 divisions will go to post in races one, two, four, five, seven and eight on the track’s 13-race card that day.

Among the outstanding 2-year-old colts who’ll be in action include Riggins and Share The Delight; the former will be handled by Ray Schnittker and the latter by Jimmy Morrill, Jr.

Riggins, a son of Art Major owned by the Buffalo Boys Stable, Howard Taylor, Frank Baldassare and David Pepin, has already been victorious in 1:54 over the double oval at Saratoga Raceway and earned purses of $57,067 in just four starts.

Share The Delight, an undefeated son of Bettor’s Delight owned by the Four Horsemen Stable and Algonquin Farms, has three consecutive triumphs and defeated Riggins by a nose in 1:54 when they went head-to-head in their last outing at Tioga Downs.

However, on Thursday, Riggins is the 9-5 favorite in the first race while Share The Delight is rated 5-2 by the track oddsmaker in race number eight. The former will start from post position four while the latter will leave from the three hole.

Schnittker will also start the outstanding colts Jagger Blue Chip and Savannah Scion, both tabbed as the morning line favorites in their respective splits.

Owned by Schnittker, Steven Arnold, Pepin and the Blue Crue Racing Stable, Jagger Blue Chip, another son of Bettor’s Delight, owns a record of 1:56.2 on a half-mile track and has a $32,445 bankroll already this season.

Savannah Scion, a Sealed N Delivered colt owned by Mathias Meinzinger, has two wins to his credit — the fastest a 1:58.2 clocking at Tioga Downs in his last start — and has earned $25,478 thus far.

The former will start from post three in race seven while the latter will leave from the four hole in race two.

Hands To Yourself, a Sealed N Delivered gelding who has three wins in four seasonal starts — the fastest a 1:55.4 score at Saratoga Raceway –and $33,793 in purses, is favored from the rail position in race five. Jimmy Morrill, Jr. will be in the pilot’s seat for owners James Moran, Robert McCarthy, Neal Chilson and Pat DePasquale.

A final division, race four, has Crevani Farms’ Bullville Powerful as the early line favorite from post position four. Stephane Bouchard is slated to handle the driving chores behind the Bettor’s Delight colt who already owns a 1:55 record taken at Tioga Downs.

Post time for the first race will be at 1:10 p.m.