by Shawn Wiles, for Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Trackman Anthony Desimone worked hard last week and over the weekend to put the best possible racing surface together for the New York Sire Stakes’ first visit at Monticello Raceway on Monday (June 4), but it was not to be. An overnight rain made the track slick for the first three races, but as the day went on the track got better.

The afternoon saw Scott Zeron drive three winners, Ake Svanstedt and Trond Smedshammer each had two wins, while Linda Toscano had two training wins and Ken Jacobs had two owner wins.

Post time favorite Fury Road made an uncharacteristic break leaving the gate in the first $29,850 NYSS 3-year-old filly trot division. In the short field of six, two others made miscues down the backside. Red Reign and Jordan Stratton inherited the lead and took the field through soft fractions of :31 and 1:01. All the while Tribute To Seven was lurking in the two hole.

At the five-eighths marker Scott Zeron had Tribute To Seven in high gear and had the lead at the three-quarters in 1:31. From that point on the daughter of Chapter Seven continued to open daylight on the field to win by 6-3/4 lengths in a pedestrian-like 2:01. Tribute To Seven is trained by Linda Toscano for owner Richard Gutnink. Red Reign held on for second.

Geri Schwarz photo

Lucky Ava cruised to an easy 11 length victory in 1:58.4, the fastest mile of the afternoon.

The $30,450 second division of the NYSS saw Lucky Ava destroy a field of her contemporaries as she cruised to an easy 11 length victory in 1:58.4 (last quarter :28.3), the fastest mile of the afternoon. The daughter of Lucky Chucky picked up her third win of the young season for co-owner/trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt and fellow owners Little E and Van Camp Trotting Corp. Lucky Ava was bred by co–owner Little E. The win vaulted Lucky Ava over $250,000 in lifetime earnings. Jackie Newlands was second followed by Firm To Stay in the show spot.

Both Supergirl Riley (post seven) and Natalie Hanover (post five) left the gate hard in the third division of Sire Stakes, racing for a purse of $30,450, but it was Supergirl Riley who got there first. She cut fractions of :29.1, 1:00.2 and 1:29.2. Trond Smedshammer had Dew To Win in perfect position and overtook the leader to prevail in 1:59 and returned $15.20. Dew To Win is owned by Purple Haze Stables and picked up her second win of the year. She is by Deweycheatumnhowe. Natalie Hanover hung on for second and Perfect Summer K was third.

In the $29,850 fourth division of the NYSS, Somedew Somedont cut the fractions of :30.4, 1:01.2, and 1:31.1. Ake Svanstedt was content to sit the pocket with $300,000 yearling Ciao Dolce. The daughter of Credit Winner–Pizza Dolce popped out of the two hole in mid-stretch to notch the victory in 1:59.4 to score her maiden win, giving Svanstedt a driving and training double. Kjell Magne Andersen owns the winner. Somedew Somedont finished a game second.

Excelsior A

Abbie Hall (Conway Hall–Armbro Archer) made a huge brush down the backside and won by five lengths in 1:59.4 and paid $2.40 to win. Smedshammer is the trainer and driver of the winner.

Pittstop Emerald tried to wire the field, but Girl Crush (Conway Hall) had other plans and won by a neck in 2:00 for driver Scott Zeron. Girl Crush is trained by the young Swede Lucas Wallin.

Sassy Massy and Mark Whitcroft dodged traffic to take their division in 2:02.2 and returned a healthy $35.40 win ticket. The daughter of Muscle Mass earned her third consecutive win.

Seven Karats went wire-to-wire in this field of seven for trainer Linda Toscano and driver Zeron in 1:59.1. The daughter of Chapter Seven is owned by Kenneth Jacobs and picked up her first pari-mutuel win of the year. Seven Karats was bred by Diamond Creek Farm.

Jordan Stratton and A Gift For You (Credit Winner) visited the winner’s circle after holding off White Cheetah in 1:59.4 to give owner Jacobs his double for the day.

Excelsior B

Local reinsman Bruce Aldrich wired the field and skipped away by four lengths with Executive Decision (Conway Hall) in 2:02.2 for trainer Homer Hochstetler. She was followed by Byway and Coastie.

Chasing Stardom (Deweycheatumnhowe) picked up her first lifetime win in 2:03.3. She is trained by Howard Okusko and was driven by Mark MacDonald.

The sire tally was Chapter Seven and Conway Hall both had three winners each on the afternoon.

The 11-race card was well received as $689,836 was wagered on the afternoon.