by Kelly Young for the NY Sires Stakes

MONTICELLO, N.Y.–The soft rain falling intermittently didn’t seem to hamper the sophomore pacing colts and geldings competing for more than $124,000 in New York Sires Stakes action at Monticello Raceway on Monday , June 28th.

Four divisions went to post and when it was all over and done Raining Again, Michael Scores and Chart Carrier each came away with the lions share of their $30,000 purses, while Lost In The Buschs and Anniversary Guy finished in a dead heat to split top honors in their division.

Chart Carrier, the 1-5 favorite in the final division, cut the mile with driver Jeff Gregory and won easily in 1:58.3. The event was the third Sire Stakes victory on the card for Gregory, including his dead heat.

Robert Cohen and Jerry Spitzberg’s Ribbonships bred and own the gelded son of Magical Mike. Chart Carrier did not start as a freshman and has now won for the sixth time in seven starts this year. “After he qualified last year, we took a chip out of his ankle,” said Cohen. “Then we gave him some time off preparing for this year. He’s come back really well.”

Chart Carrier, trained by Jeffrey Smith, is also eligible to the Motor City Pace in Michigan and will continue on the Sire Stakes trail this season.

Michael Scores, a homebred for James and Sandra Compton, coasted home to win his split in 1:57.3, a new career mark. The son of Held For Ransom is now a winner of more than $115,000. In that same division, heavy favorite Macho Mike, who scored two 1:50.4 victories at the Meadowlands, broke on the lead in the final turn and suffered a flat tire. Driven by Cat Manzi, the horse was not able to finish the race.

During the first split, when the rain came down the hardest, players inspired by a hunch cashed in on Raining Again. The son of On The Road Again romped to a 1:57.2 victory and remained undefeated this year in eight trips to the post. Howard Okusko Jr. drove the winner for trainer and father Howard Okusko Sr. and owner Gordon Rumpel.

Jim and Jan Murrell, co-owners of Lost In The Buschs, traveled from Vernon Downs to watch a rare Sire Stakes dead heat. Cat Manzi directed their On The Road Again colt to the early lead, then inherited the pocket as Anniversary Guy and Gregory drove on to the front. Lost In The Bushs pulled out in the stretch and hit the wire at the same moment as favorite Anniversary Guy.

The Murrells own Lost In The Buschs with Mary Anne and Rick Lanpher Jr. Tim Lanpher conditions the colt bred by Ernest Price Sr. of Napanock, N.Y.

Anniversary Guy, a son of Wallstreet Tycoon, is owned by breeder and trainer Henry Westbrook Jr. and Martin Campbell.