by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The cream of this year’s crop of 3-year-old trotting fillies will be in action at Monticello Raceway on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 15, when the track presents four $44,000 divisions of the New York Sire Stakes. Of the four, one will be a non-betting affair which will be contested before the first race on the betting card while the others will go as races two, four and six. All the fillies will be vying for a berth in the $175,000 Sire Stakes Final set for Sept. 26 at Vernon Downs.

Arguably heading the class is Marcos Ameralis’ Michelle’s Way, a Conway Hall-Miss Michelle H filly who has eight wins in 12 seasonal starts. She comes into the contest with five consecutive victories, the fastest a 1:56.1 clocking in Sire Stakes action at Vernon Downs on Sept. 7. The Ken Rucker-trained filly will start from post three in the fourth race with Brent Holland at the controls.

Richard Balog’s Porque, a daughter of Pleasac-Hornby Michelle, has already bankrolled $155,170 this season and owns a 2:01.1 mark taken in Sire Stakes action at Saratoga Raceway on August 26. The Linda Toscano-trained filly will start from post three in the sixth race with Jeff Gregory aboard.

Arguably the one to beat in the second race on the card will be J-Yo, who’ll start from the pole position with Jimmy Morrill, Jr. in the pilot’s seat. Trained by Chuck Connor, Jr., this Credit Winner-Striking Sibyl filly owns a record of 1:57.2f and has earned $66,124 this season for owner Fred Monteleone.

A solid field will battle in the non-wagering event which will go to post at 12:40 p.m. Winbak Roberta, a Plesac-Summer Belle lass trained by Gregg Desanto, has five wins and $109,833 on her card and appears to be the one to beat. She’s owned in Bologna, Italy by Scuderia OM SRL. Pat Berry will drive when the filly starts from the pole position.