by Shawn Wiles, for Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The New York Sire Stakes makes its first stop at Monticello Raceway this season on Monday (June 4) as 3-year-old trotting fillies take center stage.

The entire 11-race program consists of all NYSS eligible performers; four heats of Sire Stakes racing for a purse of $30,450 each; five divisions of the Excelsior A ($15,000 each) and two splits of the Excelsior B vie for a purse of $7,200 apiece.

Sire Stakes action starts quickly in the first race. Fury Road, coming off a second place finish to stablemate Lucky Ava in the Empire Breeders Classic at Tioga Downs will start from the outside post six for Ake Svanstedt and has been installed the 5-2 favorite. The daughter of Muscle Mass earned $143,895 at 2. Fury Road was victorious in her NYSS division at Yonkers on May 8. She was also victorious in her division last year as a 2-year-old at Monticello Raceway where she scored in 2:00.4. The perpetual bridesmaid to her stablemate Lucky Ava, Fury Road finished second in the $225,000 NYSS final last fall at Yonkers Raceway.

Tribute To Seven will score from post two. She finished second in NYSS company at Yonkers in early May. Scott Zeron will get his first drive behind the daughter of Chapter Seven for trainer Linda Toscano.

Pleasepleasepleas (post three) was sharp in her last start at Tioga Downs where she won in 1:58.1 in overnight company.

Race six, the second division of NYSS, features the Queen of the Prom, Lucky Ava, the NYSS champion last year at Yonkers where she took her 2-year-old mark of 1:58.2. The Lucky Chucky offspring comes into the race with lifetime earnings of $239,339. She won the Empire Breeders consolation last week in Vernon in 1:53.4. Ake Svanstedt will drive.

Reining Monticello Raceway 2-year-old trotting filly track record holder Lima Novelty (1:57.3) will score from post three for trainer Linda Toscano. The Chapter Seven lass is owned by Ken Jacobs and will be driven by Scott Zeron. She finished third in her first NYSS event of the year earlier at Yonkers Raceway.

The third heat comes in race seven. The field of seven are a well-matched group. Special Miss (Lucky Chucky), the Lady Suffolk winner at Freehold on May 5, will score from post position three and will benefit from Jim Morrill Jr. in the bike.

The classy Jordan Blue Chip (post six) has a Sire Stake win under her belt already this year at Yonkers and will be driven by Scott Zeron. The dependable Supergirl Riley (post seven) and Natalie Hanover (post five) also figure to be in the hunt.

The ultra-consistent Somedew Somedont will start from post five in the afternoon’s last NYSS event, race eight. The offspring of Deweycheatumnhowe has finished in the top three in 11 of 13 lifetime starts for co-owner and trainer Dale Lawton. Top Monticello Raceway driver Jim Devaux will handle the chores.

A pair of bluebloods, each out of a former 2-year-old trotting Filly of the Year, will also be in the hunt. Ciao Dolce, a $300,000 yearling, out of the crack mare Pizza Dolce, will start from post two for Ake Svanstedt; the future blueblood broodmare is still seeking a lifetime mark. Mooshka Stride, the first foal of Check Me Out, a $260,000 yearling purchase, will score from the four hole. The Credit Winner filly is trained by Mark Harder and will be driven by Scott Zeron. Mooshka Stride sports a lifetime mark of 1:55 taken at 2.

The track record for 3-year-old filly trotters is 1:56.1 and is shared by Gerri’s Joy and Goosebump Hanover, although the record may not be in jeopardy as the weatherman is not cooperating and is calling for rain. Post time is 12:50 p.m.