by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Sophomore pacing fillies will be featured when Monticello Raceway hosts six $10,800 New York Sire Stakes late closers on Monday afternoon, August 4.

Purple Haze Stables’ Highmaintenanceart, a winner of two consecutive with a record of 1:54 taken at Vernon Downs on July 19, is favored in the first split, race one. Howie Okusko, Jr. will drive from post position four. Hishgmaintenanceart is a daughter of Art Major-Costly Power.

Richard Smith and Ron MacArthur’s Major Trap, a 1:56.3 winner at Rosecroft Raceway on June 13, will lock horns with Ralph De Priore, Jr. and Harry Doyle’s Alwaygetsherway, a 1:53.1 winner at Vernon Downs on July 19 in the second split, race four on the card. Chris Lems will handle the former and start from the six hole while Brian Allen gets the call on the latter when she leaves from the rail position. Major Trap is an Art Major filly out of Hare Trap while Alwaysgetsherway is a daughter of Dream Away-Princess Jocelyn.

Purple Haze Stables’ Gray Major, who’s been on the board in NYSS races at Saratoga Harness and Goshen Historic Track, owns a 1:54 mark taken in NYSS late closer action at Vernon Downs on July 19. Howie Okusko, Jr. will handle the driving chores from post four, race five. She is by Art Major out of Jules Jodoin.

Nags To Riches Stable’s To The Point, a 1:58.4 winner on Saratoga Raceway’s double oval, is favored from post two in the fourth split, race seven. The daughter of Sealed N Delivered-Fast Talker will have Danny Cappello, Jr. at the lines when she leaves from post position two.

Lesley’s Jlo Belle, owned by Louis Talarico and driven by Chris Lems, gets the nod in the fifth division, race eight. The daughter of Final Kid-Joan Of Art was a 1:55.3 winner at Vernon Downs on July 19 and will start from the four hole.

And in the final split, race 11, Rocco Manzi’s Yoko Bono will be the one to beat despite having to start from post position seven. A winner of seven of 16 starts, mostly at the NYS county fairs where she has set some track records, her best effort thus far was a 1:55.3 clocking at Vernon Downs on June 26. Yoko Ono is by Pro Bono Best out of Guerilla Girl.

Post time for the 13-race card will be at 1:10 p.m.