by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — On Thursday afternoon, August 21, New York breds were showcased at Monticello Raceway with five $41,110 divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts in the New York Sire Stakes and three $10,700 splits for freshman trotting colts in the NYSS Late Closer program.

Though all the Sire Stakes winners went notable trips, a pair of victors, Hay Goodlooking and Spacehill, were extremely impressive.

Hay Goodlooking was certainly looking good when Gates Brunet reined the son of Art Major-Monique’s Legacy to a gritty 1:56.4 victory in their $41,110 NYSS division. Not only did the colt pace a swift last half but when he was looked in the eye he dug in and refused to lose.

“How many 2-year-olds do you see that pace a 56 and 3 (:56.3) last half,” said Brunet with a smile when his colt was blanketed in the winner’s circle after the victory. “He went a good mile but he’ll be even better on a big track,” he told co-owners Ted Gewertz and Sam Dotro who joined in for the winner’s circle ceremony.

But how much more could be asked of the $14,000 yearling purchase than to score his third victory — and one second — in four lifetime starts?

Hay Goodlooking, who competes with a full porous mask, raced on the front-end and was comfortable by the half-mile marker in 1:00.1 before Jimmy Morrill, Jr. and favored Mr Express took aim at the leader around the clubhouse turn. They paced side by side to the third stanza in 1:28.4 and as they headed into the final turn Mr Express had a three-quarter length lead on Hay Goodlooking.

But as soon as Hay Goodlooking realized he was headed not only did he rally back to take command at the top of the lane but he kept Mr Express at bay through the entire homestretch to score a one length victory.

Asked why Hay Goodlooking let Mr Express get by him before he dug in Brunet explained, “As you see, he wears a mask and he didn’t really see the other horse until he went by us and when my colt could see him he dug in and he toughed it right to the end.”

Spacehill’s 1:57 victory was equally as impressive.

Jason Bartlett had Big Rock Star on the front-end and as they approached the halfway point Morrill, who was sitting third in the early going with the betting favorite, finally moved Spacehill to the outside and when he did he took a deep seat and a good hold.

Spacehill passed the leaders like a freight train passes hobos and all Morrill had to do was hold on as the son of Space Shuttle-Matt’s Life poured on a :28.2 third quarter. With Morrill still swinging on him, Spacehill paced the final stanza in :28.3 en route to an 8-1/2 length triumph over Big Rock Star.

Morrill, usually a man of few words, chuckled when he said. “I couldn’t go the last half any slower than :57 seconds; in fact if they paid me a thousand dollars I couldn’t have gone it in :57.1.”

Trained by Erv Miller for Joshua Demon Hill, the victory was the fifth in six lifetime starts and the colt’s fifth consecutive.

Other NYSS winners included Where’s Waldo (Bettor’s Delight-Mystical Trick, 1:58.2) and Giacometti (Bettor’s Delight-Patsy’s Art, 1:58.2) and Woodstock Hanover (Bettor’s Delight-Western Duel, 1:58.2) in the non-wagering division. The latter two were reined to victory by Stephane Bouchard.

Woodstock Hanover is trained by Noel Daley for owners David Scharf, Adam Victor and Son Stable and Kenneth Tucci. Eddie Hart conditions Giacometti for John Fielding. Where’s Waldo is trained by Tracy Brainard and was driven by Danny Cappello, Jr. for owner Ken Jacobs.

Colts that won their NYSS Late Closer splits included Purple Haze Stables’ Midnight Jamming (Credit Winner-Sarah’s Fergi) in 2:05 for Howard Okusko, Jr ; Corey Braden reined Alan and Gus Johnston, Ray Van Dreason and James Kennedy’s Monaghan Man (Malabar Man-Corfad Dream) to victory in 2:04.2; and Kellogg Racing Stables and John Stark, Jr.’s Grand Way (Conway Hall-Grand Abby) was driven to victory by John Stark, Jr. in 2:04.3.