Monticello, NY — Monticello Raceway will host the New York Sire Stakes on Monday (Aug. 1), when the 2-year-old trotting colts visit the famed Catskill Mountains oval.

On tap are two heats of the NYSS, going for purses of $53,500 and $54,500. The card also includes two heats of the Excelsior A Class, racing for a purse of $15,000, and two classes of Excelsior B for $6,500.

Installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the $54,500 second division is Wild Bill Kelso (post three). He has a Sire Stakes win at Buffalo Raceway in 2:01.2. Last start, the son of Crazy Wow finished second to Crown in NYSS action at Vernon. He will be driven by Wally Hennessey for trainer Jim Campbell.

The Gruffalo is the points leader in his division by virtue of his back-to-back NYSS wins at Saratoga and Vernon. At Vernon, he scorched the track and took his lifetime record of 1:56.4. The son of Chapter Seven is trained by Mark Harder. He will score from post six with Tyler Buter in the bike.

The first heat goes for $53,500. The Strawboss comes into the race with a pair of place performances in NYSS competition. The Joe Skowyra-trained son of Conway Hall will start from post eight and will be driven by Jimmy Devaux.

Met Your Request is the co-favorite. The son of Met’s Hall made a miscue in his last start at Vernon Downs, but he was a winner in his prior start at Saratoga and was also a winner in the Excelsior series at Buffalo. Tyler Miller will handle the driving for trainer Julie Miller.

Kierkegaard K will benefit from an inside post position this week, where he will start from post three. In his prior starts, he was saddled with outside posts and was always on the hunt. Ake Svanstedt will drive the son of Chapter Seven for owner Knutsson Trotting.

The track record for this group is 1:58, which is held by Fourth Dimension.