by Shawn Wiles, for Monticello Raceway
Monticello, NY — On Monday afternoon (Aug. 8) at Monticello Raceway, 2-year-old pacing colts will be the center of attention in the fifth of eight legs of the New York Sire Stakes circuit.
On tap on the card is three splits of the regular Sire Stakes and three each of the Excelsior A and B classes. The Sire Stakes vie for $35,866 per division, the Excelsior A races for $15,000 and the Excelsior B goes for $6,700.
The highly touted Miso Fast brings with him his ultra-impressive resume. The Roll With Joe colt is unbeaten thus far in his juvenile career. He has reeled off three consecutive wins in NYSS competition, all in impressive fashion. The $125,000 Kentuckiana Farms yearling purchase is trained by Ron Burke and will be driven by Matt Kakaley. He will start from post four in the six-horse field and he is 4-5 on the morning line.
Based on his last three outings, the track record for 2-year-old pacing colts may be in jeopardy. The current record of 1:55.2 is held by Freedomformysoul and was set in 2014.
Rock It Scott (post four) and Music Is Art (post six) are the main contenders in the first division of the Sire Stakes. In his third lifetime start, Rock It Scott was a winner at Saratoga in 1:54.3. He earned his lifetime mark in his last start at Tioga Downs in 1:54.1 and has earned $40,000. Music Is Art also earned his speed badge of 1:54.3 at Saratoga. The son of Art Major is trained by Steve Elliott for owners Peter Blood and Rick Berks. Jason Bartlett will drive the colt from post position six and is 3-1 on the morning line.
Funknwaffles looks to extend his winning streak to three. His last start was at Tioga Downs while competing in the Excelsior A class. The American Ideal–Hatsoff Hanover colt was very impressive by virtue of his 1:52.4 win last week at Tioga Downs. He steps up in class this week for owners Crawford Farms Racing. He will start from post four in the eighth race with Jim Morrill Jr. driving. The bay colt is trained by John Butenschoen.
Post time for the 13-race card is 12:50 p.m.