by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The first Monticello Raceway legs of New York-bred races will commence Thursday evening (July 4) and will feature the $130,000 New York Sires Stakes as well as the $50,000 Excelsior Stakes, both for freshman pacing fillies. It will be the second stop for the 2-year-olds en route to the $175,000 final later this fall.

A special post time for the 11-race card will be at 5:30 p.m., followed by the best fireworks display in the Catskills, which will be presented 20 minutes after the last race.

Sean Hamrock photo

Mind Over Matter was a 1:55.1 winner in her NYSS division on June 24.

Headlining the NYSS events is Mind Over Matter, whose 1:55.1 victory on June 24 in Sire Stakes action at Yonkers Raceway has the Art Major-Serious Comfort filly leading her gender in a season’s record on a double oval thus far this year.

The Gregg McNair-trained filly is the early line favorite in her $32,662 division and will leave from post six in the eighth race. Once again Tim Tetrick will handle the driving chores for the Millar Farms of Newmarket, Ontario.

In another NYSS $33,262 split — race six — Scandalicious, a good looking daughter of American Ideal-The Company Store, also was a NYSS winner last week at Yonkers Raceway in 1:56.2. She will have Andrew McCarthy in the pilot’s seat for trainer Scott DiDomenico when she starts from post position five.

Local trainer Bruce Borden will send out the favorite Bettor Chill Out in yet another $33,262 division, race three on the card. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Just Chillin, owned by Joe Meany of Crestwood, N.Y., won her NYSS split at Yonkers in 1:57. Jeff Gregory will handle the driving chores.

Tim Rooney’s Art Major-Cat Thief filly Clara, a 1:58.1 winner at Yonkers in her NYSS split there, will be the one to beat in another $33,262 division. Trainer Larry Remmen has tabbed Jeff Gregory with the driving assignment but they’ll have to overcome starting from the seven hole in race two on the card that night.

The undercard will feature four $12,700 divisions for New York-bred fillies in the Excelsior Series. Of the 28 starters only one filly, Spreester, has won a pari-mutuel race although that will change drastically after the events are completed on Thursday.

Spreester, a daughter of American Ideal-Rodeo Spree, won her previous start in 1:59.1 at Saratoga Casino and Raceway for driver Jimmy Devaux.

Devaux will again be in the sulky for trainer Paul Zabielski when the filly leaves from the five hole in the fifth race. The filly is owned by Kimberly Zabielski of Greenfield Center, N.Y.