by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

MONTICELLO, NY — A total of over $582,000 will be up for grabs in New York Sire Stakes sophomore trots at Monticello Raceway on Sunday’s and Monday’s race cards.

On Sunday, July 23 the sophomore trotting fillies return to the Mighty M with five divisions and race for a total purse of over $291,000. The following afternoon the 3-year-old trotting colts will battle in six divisions for a total purse in excess of $290,000.

The fillies will compete in races one, two, four five and eight on Sunday afternoon while the colts will battle is races one, two, four, six, eight and nine on the Monday card.

Due to the current closure of Yonkers Raceway several of the New York State tracks racing have picked up the NYSS events that would have been showcased at Yonkers.

The 3-year-old trotting fillies were here in Sire Stakes action on July 13 and on Sunday Monticello Raceway picks up the Yonkers legs.

The same will hold true for the sophomore trotting colts. After they compete here on Monday they will return again on Tuesday, August 29.

Back on Sunday and looking for two consecutive NYSS victories will be Claudia, Mon Amie, Incredible Fortuna, Boriqua, and Carmen Hall. Of the six divisions winners the first time around only Quick Credit will not return. Her connections opted to race her at The Meadowlands on July 21.

Incredible Fortuna, a winner in 2:00.3 the first time around, and Boriqua, a victor in 2:01.1, will lock horns in the first race Sunday. The former, who will start from post position six, will again have Ivan Davies at the controls. Boriqua, will race from post seven and be driven by Yannick Gingras.

In the second race Claudia, who won her split in 2:02:4 and Mon Amie, a previous 2:03:1 winner, are in against each other. Jan Johnson will drive Claudia from post two while Jeff Gregory will again handle Mon Amie but will have to start from post position eight.

Carmen Hall, a 2:02:3 winner here in NYSS action last time, has drawn post position seven in the eighth race and will be driven by Brian Allen.

Stardust, who was a close second to Quick Credit in a 1:59:4 clocking last time, will be the one to beat in her division which will go as race five on Sunday. Gates Brunet will drive the Credit Winner filly and they’ll leave from post position four.

Each of the five filly divisions will race for a purse of $57,733.

When the colts strut their stuff on Monday afternoon the outstanding sophomore, RC Royalty will be the one that most eyes will be on.

Last year the Chip Campbell-owned son of Credit winner set a Monticello track record when he won a Sire Stakes event in of 1:59:4 and he’ll come into Monday’s race off an eye-popping 1:56:3 track mark at Saratoga Raceway on July 12.

Dan Daley trains and will drive RC Royalty from post six in the fourth race. The colt has already shown his class by winning two of three stakes this year with his only loss– a second place finish by just a head—coming in the Historic Dickerson Cup at the Meadowlands. His 1:54:4 clocking was identical to the winner’s.

RC Royalty is rumored to be Hambletonian-bound.

However, R C Royalty is not the only accomplished colt who will compete in Monday’s NYSS events.

Ray Schnittker sends out a pair; Frank The Hands and Matchstick Man. Frank The Hands, owned by Schnittker, Kelks, Inc. Frank Baldassare and Paul Doherty, was a top freshman colt and a winner of $163,000 with a 1:57 mark. This season he won a Landmark Stakes in 2:00.3 at Historic Track July 1. They’ll race from post position seven in the sixth race.

Matchstick Man, owned by Schnittker, Paul Doherty and the Hero Stables will come into his split off a 2:00.1 Sire Stakes victory at Saratoga on July 12. They will start from post four in the eighth race but will have to contend with Freddie Monteleone’s, Kid Conway, who has drawn the rail position in the same event.

Kid Conway, a 2:02 NYSS winner at Saratoga on July 12, also scored a 1:56:4 stakes triumph at Tioga Downs on July 4. Charlie Connor, Jr. will handle the driving chores for trainer Jimmy Cruise, Jr.

Each of the seven divisions will race for purses of $48, 235.

Post time for both the Sunday and Monday cards will be at 1:10 p.m.