by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Monticello will become Trot Town USA on Wednesday, July 25, when the Raceway presents nine trotting races on their 13-race card. Featured will be four $9,700 divisions of the New York Bred Late Closer for sophomore trotting colts. The late closers will be in races one, four, five and nine.

Lohmeyer Racing Stables’ Pacific Voodoo, a son of Conway Hall who owns a 2:00.4 record taken at Chester Downs, has been designated the favorite in the first race. Eddie Lohmeyer will handle the driving chores when the colt starts from the rail position.

Claude Huckabone’s Billboard King, a Giant Hit gelding with a 1:59.1 record over Tioga Downs five-eighths-mile oval, is favored in the second late closer division. Claude Huckabone, Jr. will drive when they leave from post position six in race four.

Blazing Winner, owned by the Howard Stables and driven by Stephane Bouchard, gets the odds maker’s nod in the third NY-bred split. The Credit Winner colt, a 2:00.3 winner in his last outing at Tioga Downs, will start from the rail position in race five.

Adam Mace’s Little By Little, a 2:00 winner at Plainridge Racecourse, has been installed as the favorite in the final NY-bred division. Ivan Davies will drive the Conway Hall colt when they start from the two hole in the ninth race.

Also on the card are trots in races two, six, eight, 11, and 13.

Race eight is the $13,000 Preferred Handicap. In that contest Armbro Barrister (Ray Schnittker), Donnegal (Mike Forte) and Four Starz Trump (Stephane Bouchard) will lock horns.

Armbro Barrister is a former track record holder, Donnegal is a former Trotter of the Year at the Mighty M, and Four Starz Trump was a 1:59.2 winner here in his last start.

Post time for the first race on Wednesday is at 1:10 p.m.