by Shawn Wiles, for Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Monticello Raceway showcased a hefty card of 14 races which featured New York Sire Stakes action for 2-year-old trotting colts. On tap were five divisions of Sire Stakes, worth $22,000 each, in addition to four heats of Divisions A’s ($15,000) and two races for Division B ($6,600).

Over 80 freshman trotting colts discovered practice is over and now it is for real when they made their pari-mutuel and half-mile oval debuts on Thursday (June 30). John Campbell had three winners on the afternoon’s card and owners Ted Gewertz and Wanda Polisseni both enjoyed an owners double on the day.

Geri Schwarz photo

Such An Angel remains undefeated in his brief yet promising career.

In the first $22,200 dash, Such An Angel took advantage and protected the rail, as he prevailed in a wire-to-wire to win in 2:01:1. The Credit Winner colt, who sprinted home in :29.1, is owned by the partnership of Samuel Caruso and Wanda Polisseni. He is trained by Paul Kelly and driven by Sam Caruso. The $110,000 yearling purchase has three wins in as many starts.

In the fourth race, which was the second Sire Stakes contest, the undefeated Barn Winner scored in impressive fashion for driver Jeff Gregory, as Lindy The Second showed the field through two fractions of :30 each for the first half mile. Gregory was biding his time and down the backstretch he carefully tipped the Credit Winner colt to the outside at the three-quarter marker. At the top of the lane Barn Winner responded well when asked for trot, coming home in a brisk :28:3 to trip the timer in 2:00 over Devious Man and fraction-setting Lindy the Second.

Steven Pratt trains and co-owns along with Nancy Pratt and Out In The Country Stable.

The third Sire Stakes division was the sixth race. Odeon Bluechip left fastest from the gate from post position three and showed the way out of the first turn. Zack’s Zoomer (Deweycheatumnhowe) pulled the two-hole and quickly took the lead from Odeon Bluechip (Credit Winner) before the first quarter mile, reaching that marker in 30:0. They then reached an even-rated half in 1:00:2. At the five-eighths pole John Campbell, driving Volare, made a bold move and challenged Zack’s Zoomer but had to settle for second money as Zack’s Zoomer withstood the challenge.

Trained by Erv Miller, Zack’s Zoomer scored by 1-1/4 lengths over Volare in 1:59:3 for Erv Miller Stable and Harvey Eisman. He was driven by Andy Miller and it was the fastest mile of the day for the 2-year-olds.

Aces and Eights was content to sit in the pocket behind fraction-setting Neon Lights the entire mile. Dan Daley tipped the son of RC Royalty to the outside as they fanned for home. Neon Lights started to labor for driver Chris Lems and made an ill-timed break in deep stretch. Ace and Eights inherited the lead and won over Shaq To The Rack and Ray Schnittker in 2:00:3 for the winning connections of Ann-Mari Daley, James Crawford IV, Richard Lombardo and Robert Brooks.

The last of five Sire Stakes came in the 12th race, as Money Macintosh won by two lengths for the team of Andy and Julie Miller. The son of Credit Winner was eased from post position eight and found himself parked three-deep going into the first turn and then down the backstretch. After dodging a few breakers, he eventually made his way to the lead past the first quarter mile in :30:3. He then led the field through fractions of 1:01:2, 1:31:3 and was never headed to prevail in 2:00:3.

Money Macintosh is owned by Story Inc.

The John Campbell classes started in an Excelsior A event as he scored with the diminutive and uniquely colored New York Chrome for jubilant owner Philip Hale of New Hartford, N.Y. in 2:01.3.

The Hall of Famer would go on to win the final two races of the afternoon. In the 13th race, Sheldon (Chapter Seven) minded his manners and won in 2:04.4. Winter Mint (Credit Winner),who was a handful scoring down but was on his best behavior once behind the gate, floated out from post position two and was sitting third when the horses in front of him made breaks. Once given the lead he never relinquished it to win in 2:02.2.

Credit Winner sired five winners on the day, while Dewcheatumnhowe had three with RC Royalty, Chapter Seven and Mutineer all sharing one triumphant offspring each.