Monticello, NY – On Monday (July 20), Monticello Raceway will host two $52,500 divisions of New York Sire Stakes action when 2-year-old male trotters come to town. Also on tap are two divisions of the $20,000 Excelsior Series.
Only 10 trotters were entered in the Sire Stakes divisions. The first heat is race 4, featuring Bigtime Chapter (PP1-Dexter Dunn), who shows steady improvement in every start. Marcus Melander trains the son of Chapter Seven-Fine Tuned Lady, who was a $190,000 yearling acquisition for owner Jeff Snyder. His short resume includes a win in this class at Vernon Downs in 1:57.2 and $27,750 in seasonal earnings.
Celebrity Dubai (PP5-Jason Bartlett) finished second to Uncle Rob two starts back in Sire Stakes competition for trainer Hunter Oaks and is seeking his first win on the year.
The second division of NYSS features Uncle Rob, a son of Met’s Hall-Jesse’s Con, who will start from post 2 with Andy Miller in the bike. The freshman is the top point earner in his division and already has banked $74,975, with a win at Buffalo in 2:00.3 and a second-place finish in his last outing to Bigtime Chapter at Vernon Downs.
Gio’s Hope (PP4-Dunn) took his lifetime record in his first pari-mutuel start at Vernon Downs in a swift 1:55 in New York Sire Stakes competition for trainer Melander.
The top point earner in the Excelsior division is Telling Tall Tales (PP3-Tyler Buter). The son of Back of The Neck-Scores To Settle, has two Excelsior wins in as many starts to his credit and is trained by Rob Harmon. The second division of Excelsior is a six-horse contest. Betelgeusebluechip (PP2-Buter) scored in his last start at Vernon Downs with a wire-to-wire win in 1:57.4. The John Stark Jr.-trained Im Vengeance, starting from the rail, finished second in this company two starts back.
Post time for the 11-race card is 12:10 p.m. (EDT).