by Shawn Wiles, for Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — As Monticello Raceway announcer Howard Oil would say, “they’re coming from everywhere.” That’s what Race Secretary Eric Warner thought when he opened the box for the New York Sire Stakes 3-year-old trotting colts for Monday (July 17).

He had 52 entries in the box, forming three regular division of Sire Stakes ($39,200), three heats of the Excelsior A class ($15,000) and two Excelsior B races ($6,000), in total racing for purses in excess of $175,000.

Dexter Cup winner Lord Cromwell will get the action started in the first race on the card as he will start from post three in the six-horse field. The Ed Hart trained son of Chapter Seven–Oh Oh Its Magical already has $110,000 on his card this year and a mark of 1:55 taken in his Dexter Cup victory.

Dunbar Hall has the fastest lifetime mark of the group, 1:54.1 taken at an overnight at Mohawk. This will be his first test in Sire Stakes company. Texican and Royal Casanova are moving up from the Excelsior A class and trying their luck in the big league.

The second division on paper looks to be the race of the day, with the track record in jeopardy. The record is 1:56.3 set in 2015 by Habitat. Swedish trainer Anette Lorentzon brings the razor sharp Guardian Angel AS to the contest, an easy eight length NYSS winner last week at Buffalo in 1:57.1 and a 12 length romp at Yonkers in 1:56.3 two starts prior. The Archangel–Provide As filly has five wins and a second in seven starts this year and $77,000 in earnings.

Optimist Blue Chip has visited the winner’s circle five times already this year; his last win came at Saratoga in 1:55.3 two weeks ago for trainer Buzzy Sholty. A winner earlier in the year in the Excelsior A, this will be his first attempt at the regular Sire Stakes. Bruce Aldrich Jr. will be in the bike.

Race eight features Eye Ofa Tiger AS, the interesting homebred son of Chapter Seven–Cascade AS, who is owned by ACL Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson. He will be driven by Jason Bartlett and will start from post two. He sports a three-race win steak and his last start was a NYSS win at Buffalo in 1:57.2.

The consistent Stick With Me Kid (post four) with Brian Sears will also be in the fray for trainer George Ducharme.

The first Excelsior A heat comes in race three. DW’s Revenge (post seven) has two wins in this class thus far this year and is a five-time winner this year. Recent Hall of Fame inductee Brian Sears will be in the bike.

Race seven pits three A class winners in the same dash, Sweetchap (post three), Patton (post six) and morning line favorite Big Man EV (post four).

The last spilt of the A class comes in race 10. Southwind Cruze and Andy Miller from the rail is the 5-2 morning line favorite by virtue of his two consecutive second place finishes in this class.

In the second race, the uniquely colored New York Chrome will start from post position four in the seven-horse field, in the Excelsior B class. The son of Deweycheatumnhowe was a winner last year at Monticello and took his 2-year-old mark of 2:01.3. The chestnut gelding won in the same fraternity two starts ago at Buffalo.

Post time for the 13-race card is 12:50 p.m.