Monticello, NY — The 3-year-old trotting colts come to Monticello Raceway on Monday (July 31) for two heats of New York Sire Stakes and two dashes of the Excelsior series, all competing for $154,000 in purse money.

Chapercraz destroyed the competition at Buffalo with a 1:54.2 win in NYSS action. Bill Burke photo.

Trainer Ron Burke has a pair of entries in the first heat, worth $57,000. Chapercraz was a winner last start at Buffalo in Sire Stakes competition. The son of Crazy Wow also has a pair of second place finishes in the Zweig and the Yonkers Trot. He leads all starters with $238,152 in earnings this season, will hail from the rail, and will be driven by Joe Bongiorno.

The other half of the entry is Sevecheetah. The son of Chapter Seven will start from post position four with Jim Devaux in the sulky.

Wild Bill Keslo took his 2-year-old record last year at Monticello and won the other Sire Stakes division last start at Buffalo. Cecil Hanover (Mark MacDonald) has two Sire Stakes victories on his tally this season for trainer Ake Svanstedt and has banked $124,042.

The second dash is carded as race eight and will have five behind the gate. The Gruffalo (post two) is looking to regain his form from last season, where he earned $223,650. His best finish this season is a place performance in NYSS action at Vernon Downs. Mark Harder trains the son of Chapter Seven. Jason Bartlett will handle the driving chores.

Lucas Wallin is represented with Onion Gum, who will start from the rail. He is owned by S R F Stable, Order By Stable and Marion Mazza. He was second in his last start at Buffalo in this company and will be driven by Jordan Stratton.

Also on the card are two $20,000 divisions of the Excelsior Series.

In race three, Espresso (post one) is the most traveled and has won the most purse money by being dual eligible in New York and Kentucky, taking home $72,243 thus far this season. The son of Chapter Seven is trained by Julie Miller and will be driven by Tyler Miller.

The local connection is Emperor’s Vacation, trained by Laura Aldrich, with Bruce Aldrich Jr. in the bike.

Race six is an eight-horse contest highlighting Spending Crazy. The son of Crazy Wow is out of the Chapter Seven mare Seven Eleven. He sports an impressive six-race win streak for trainer Benny Eggers. This is his first foray in Excelsior competition.

Seven Sins (post seven) has been consistent all season with a win and two place finishes in this class. He is trained by Noel Daley and will be driven by Stratton.

Post time for the nine-race card is slated for 12:10 p.m.