by Shawn Wiles, for Monticello Raceway
Monticello, NY — The majority of 56 2-year-old trotting fillies that dropped in the box for Monday (June 25) at Monticello Raceway will be making their pari-mutuel debuts, and for many, their first time on a half-mile track. The entire card is comprised of New York Sire Stakes competition; the group were split into four regular Sire Stakes (at $26,750 or $27,250 purses), three heats of the Excelsior A (at $15,000 each)and two dashes of the Excelsior B (at $6,500 and $6,600 purses).
The opening Sire Stakes has a trio of nice fillies. Starting from the rail is Hot Chapter, a bay filly by Chapter Seven. In her first qualifying race at Gaitway Farms she was second, trotting her mile in 1:57.2. She is trained by Julie Miller and driven by Andy Miller.
Just Priceless (post two) is also looking to extend her winning streak to three for trainer Homer Hochstetler after back-to-back qualifier wins at Vernon Downs. Charlie Norris will sit behind the Muscles Yankee filly for the first time.
Monticello Raceway’s second leading trainer, Gary Messenger, will send forth Summertime Fever (post three) for owner Scott Woogen. She took a mark of 2:01.3 in a Pocono qualifier.
Liquorstoreblues (post four) knows her way around the half-mile oval quite well as the Conway Hall filly is undefeated in her two starts at Saratoga, trotting home in a blistering :28.4 in her first lifetime start. Leading Yonkers Raceway driver Jason Bartlett will be in the bike.
In the second division, Sensibility (post one) has been a two-time qualifying winner at Vernon Downs; she won her last start in 2:00.1 by 6-1/2 lengths. Scott Zeron will drive the Muscle Mass filly for owners Bill Donavan, Joe Sbrocco, Jim Winske and George Ducharme.
Amal Hall will look to shed her role as a bridesmaid as she has finished second in both of her qualifiers for trainer Julie Miller. The fleet Credit Winner-Arabella Hall lass shows trotting her last quarters in :28.2 and :28 in her qualifiers at Gaitway Farm.
In the third heat of Sire Stakes, Somermusic’chapter (post one), With Out A Doubt (post two) and Helen Goldstein (post four) were all qualifying winners in their last start.
Exotic Diamond toured the Monticello oval last week in her qualifier, where she finished third for Buzzy Sholty. Scott Zeron will drive the RC Royalty offspring.
EV’S Girl has been installed the 5-2 favorite in the last division. She will start from post position four in the six-horse field. The Crazed-Lindys Lullaby offspring was ultra-impressive in both of her qualifying races, winning both in identical times of 1:58.4 for trainer Julie Miller. Andy Miller will drive.
Winndevie (Credit Winner–Vida De Vie) will start from the rail for Trond Smedshammer for longtime stable patron Purple Haze Stable. She showed high speed in her only qualifying race, trotting her last quarter in a brisk :27.4.
Successful NYSS driver Jeff Gregory brings Safe Word (post two), a Credit Winner–Fifty Shades miss, to the contest. She finished second to EV’s Girl in her first lifetime qualifier.
Post time is 12:50 p.m.