by Shawn Wiles, for Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — To use a phrase from the great race caller Carl Becker — “They are coming from everywhere” — and that was the case for the Monday (June 6) draw at Monticello when a total of 61 colts were entered for the glamour division of the New York Sire Stakes, the 3-year-old pacing colts.

The 13-race card showcases nine races of New Yokr bred sophomores. The afternoon’s card has three division of Sire Stakes, each split racing for $39,900; four divisions of the Excelsior A class ($15,000); and two races of the Excelsior B class ($6,600).

The first division of Sire Stakes colts is race two. Missile J, hot off his win in the Art Rooney Pace final in 1:53, will start from post seven for trainer Linda Toscano. The American Ideal– Cantor’s Daughter colt was a $100,000 yearling purchase for owners KJ Stable LLC and Purple Haze Stable LLC. Unraced at 2, the late bloomer has won three in a row and he will look to extend the streak with Tim Tetrick driving.

Also looking to extend his win streak is Talk Show (post one). The son of Art Major–Lush Limbaugh is trained by Steve Elliott. Two starts prior he won in 1:51.1, pacing his last quarter in :25.4 at the Meadowlands.

In race eight Autotune Hanover (Art Major–Anderosa Hanover), who has yet to return to his 2-year-old form, will start from post two for driver Jason Barlett. A winner of in excess of $200,000, he finished third last year in the NYSS final at Yonkers.

Craftship continues to show improvement with each start, finishing second in his last start at Yonkers (last quarter :26.4), while Carlos Danger is looking to shed his role as a bridesmaid as he is winless in 12 lifetime starts.

The final NYSS event of the card comes in the 10th race, racing for a purse of $39,900. The seven-horse field features Fine Diamond, the son of Rock N Roll Heaven, out of the Breeders Crown winner Yellow Diamond. He has drawn post three for trainer Ron Burke. Matt Kakaley will drive. He had his four-race win streaked snapped last week.

JK Heaven Sent (post four) in his last start finished second at Pocono, pacing his mile in 1:50.4. The son of Rock N Roll Heaven-JK’s Owhatanite has Jim Morrill Jr. in the bike for the first time.

The four heats of the Excelsior A class are programmed as races five, six, seven and nine, while the Excelsior B class are slated as races one and four.

New York Sire Stake actions returns on Monday (June 20) as 2-year-old trotting colts come to town.