by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Could a Hambletonian entrant emerge next year from the crop of New York Sire Stakes freshman trotting colts and geldings which will be on display on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 5) at Monticello Raceway? It’s been a long time since a New York-bred has won that prestigious race — Duenna in 1983 — but one never knows as the fields in the three splits harbor some possible candidates. But of course that query will take time to really be answered.

However, Fashion Blizzard, Explosive Action and Tirade Hanover have impressive 2-year-old stats and each are favored in their respective divisions of the $146,000 event.

Fashion Blizzard, from the Jim Campbell barn, who’ll start from post six in the second split (race six) has faced the big boys in the Peter Haughton Memorial and despite having to start from the 10 hole the Credit Winner-Fun And Strokes colt was right there at the wire and finished a close third, beaten 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54.1.

Owned by Fashion Farms LLC, Fashion Blizzard has a seasonal mark of 1:56.1 taken on August 13 at Tioga Downs. Thus far in five lifetime starts the colt has bankrolled $98,110. His usual driver, Jimmy Morrill, Jr., will again be in the pilot’s seat.

Morrill will also handle the favorite in the second division in Explosive Action. The Conway Hall-Yetta’s Angel colt, owned by the John Grasso Stable and trained by Grasso, has impressive credentials with three wins and two seconds in five starts. The colt has two victories — one in 2:00 and the other in 2:00.4 — over double ovals and sports a mark of 1:58.2 taken in a freshman race at the Meadowlands back on June 23. He’ll start from post position two in race two.

A third candidate could possibly be Tirade Hanover, a son of Crazed-Teagarden Hanover, owned by Leigh Nichol, Stephen Moss, and Harold and Helane Solomon and trained by Tyler Raymer.

The gelding has five wins, a second and a third in eight starts and purses of $84,475. He comes into this contest off a 1:57.2 victory at Vernon Downs and in his prior start he took his current record of 1:55.4 at Tioga Downs. Brian Sears will handle the driving chores from the eight hole in the tenth race.

Of course there are other good looking freshman trotters among the 24 starters in the three NYSS divisions including Royalty For Life, Dexter Lake Club and Prove Up, to mention a few.

The NYSS splits will be accompanied by six $12,700 divisions of the Excelsior Series.

Fourteen races are carded on the Wednesday program and the action will get underway at 12:50 p.m.