by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — More than $150,000 will be up for grabs for freshman trotting colts in New York Sire Stakes action at Monticello Raceway on Monday, August 24. A field of 39 colts will race in five divisions — four on the betting card and one non-wagering event with a 12:40 p.m. post time.

Arguably the star of the show will be the Ray Schnittker trained and driven Margarita Man, an altered son of Malabar Man-Margarita Miss, who has yet to taste defeat and has won all four of his pari-mutuel starts.

Currently the gelding owns a 1:59 record taken in NYSS action at Tioga Downs on July 26, but has also won two NYSS contests over half-mile tracks. Schnittker will drive when Margarita Man leaves from post position three in the third $30,403 division, race five on the card.

Margarita Man’s best may be needed as he is in against some other flashy youngsters. Jimmy Doherty’s What A Winner, who registered a 1:57.2 triumph in his last outing at Tioga Downs, and Dan Daley’s RC Serpent, a 1:58.3 winner, also at Tioga Downs on July 26, will keep the pressure on. The former will start from post five while the latter leaves from the two hole.

Schnittker has another pair of fine looking youngsters in Shaq Is Back — post two in race four — and Big Stick Lindy — post four in race two.

Shaq Is Back, a son of Credit Winer-Vivica Hall and a winner of two of four races with a 1:58.3, five-eighths-mile track mark will carry the favorite’s role in his contest. He’ll have to contend with the Jimmy Morrill, Jr.-driven Carnegie, a winner of four of seven lifetime starts who comes into the contest off three consecutive wins, the fastest a 1:58.1 clocking.

Big Stick Lindy, a son of Conway Hall-Peace A Pie, is a 2:03.1, half-mile track winner at Buffalo Raceway on August 5 and will be the one to beat in his event.

The John Lichtenberger-Larry Remmen connection continues with Crazy Reminder in the sixth race. The Malabar Man gelding has two wins and three seconds in five career outings and will get the driving services of Stephane Bouchard. He’s the early line favorite in his split.

Of note on the Monday card will be a return home for Cat Manzi. The Hall of Fame driver who was born in Monticello, N.Y., began his illustrious career here at the Mighty M in the late 1960s and won numerous driving titles before he moved on to the Meadowlands in the mid-1970s. The “Catman” has won 13,405 races — good for second on the all-time list — and will drive in four of the five NYSS races.

Post time for the betting card is at 1:10 p.m.