by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Although the major portion of the New York Sires Stakes program ended with eight $175,000 divisional finals last Saturday night at Vernon Downs, the program continues.

On Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 30) at Monticello Raceway, three $12,500 divisions of late closer events for 2-year-old pacing fillies will be contested. Two will go as races one and five on the 13-race card while another will be raced at 12:40 p.m. prior to the betting program getting underway.

Glenn Raia’s Notoriety Hanover figures to be the one to beat in race one. With three wins — the last two consecutive — in her last four starts and purses in excess of $29,000, the Artiscape-Noble Desire filly will start from the pole position and have Jimmy Devaux at the controls.

Canadian owned Rock N Amber gets the odds-maker’s nod in the fifth race on the strength of two wins and two seconds in seven lifetime starts. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Amber Rock won her last outing in 2:00.1 in a late closer event at Saratoga Raceway on Sept. 20. Stephane Bouchard will handle the driving chores for owners Robert Young, Paul Grazzola and Brian Barton.

Arguably the best contest is in the non-betting race which pits It’s Only Roni against Kash Delight. The former is a winner of six of 12 this year, the fastest a 1:57.1 effort at Tioga Downs, while the latter has three consecutive wins in five lifetime starts, her fastest a 1:58.3 clocking at Saratoga Raceway on Sept. 20.

Jimmy Marohn, Jr. will handle It’s Only Roni, a Noble Ability–Theoneandonlyroni filly who leaves from post position four while Billy Dobson gets the assignment behind Kash Delight, a daughter of Bettor’s Delight-We See Kash. They’ll start from the five hole in the five-horse contest.

Both fillies have won NY-bred late closer paces here earlier this season.