by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — On Thursday (July 25), New York-bred 2-year-old trotting fillies will be in action in the $130,000 New York Sires Stakes and the $50,000 Excelsior Series.

The NYSS races will mark the second stop for the fillies en route to the $225,000 final which will be contested at Yonkers Raceway in late September for those who earn the most points at the New York racetrack events during the summer season.

The inaugural NYSS freshman filly trots were contested at Buffalo Raceway on July 3 and two of the three division winners will be in action here on Thursday.

Incredulous, a daughter of Credit Winner-Trapezius, from the powerful Linda Toscano barn, was a 2:04.1 winner and the Big Apple Deli- Lanai Blue Chip filly, Interplanet Terri, won her division in 2:04.4 for Saratoga Raceway-based trainer Glen Raia.

Of the 28 fillies entered in the four $32,662 splits, scant few have already broken their maidens. Besides the aforementioned, others already with seasonal records include Ray Schnittker’s Caroline Street, a daughter of Conway Hall-Chippewa Street who scored a 2:05.4 triumph in a division of the Landmark Stakes at Historic Track on July 5 and a pair of fillies from the Andy and Julie Miller barn.

Annie’s List and L Dee’s Scripture each have race records taken on five-eighths-mile ovals. The former, a daughter of Conway Hall-Anne’s Promise, won a non-winners trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia in a time of 1:57.3 while the latter, a Credit Winner-Graceful Way filly, won a leg of the Tompkins-Geer stakes at Tioga Downs in 1:58.3.

However, in the four $12,700 Excelsior Series trots, three fillies have already won a pari-mutuel race.

Gates Brunet’s Pazza, a daughter of Crazed-Button Box, won an overnight trot at Vernon Downs in 2:01; the Arnold Marks-trained Steuben Dreamboat won an Excelsior Series filly trot at Buffalo in 2:08.4; while Steven Pratt’s Cash Hall-Honey Starlet filly Barn Beauty also won an Excelsior Series trot at Buffalo Raceway in 2:06.3.

On Thursday, 14 races are carded, with eight for the 2-year-olds and undoubtedly other freshman fillies will earn a race record that afternoon, too.

First post is set for 12:50 p.m.