by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Southwind Austin and Steve Smith toured the double oval in 2:02.2, which turned out to be the fastest of seven divisions of freshman trotting colts and geldings in the $150,000 New York Sire Stakes at Monticello Raceway on Saturday (July 2).

Other winners included Delano, Cash Value, Macksmith, Barnegat Lane, My Man Dudley and A Penny Earned.

Geri Schwarz photo

Southwind Austin was a 2:02.2 winner in NYSS action on Saturday.

In their $21,309 division, Southwind Austin and Flyhawk Jester (Dan Daley) raced as a team until midway around the final turn at which point Flyhawk Jester tired and Southwind Austin trotted off to a three length victory in 2:02.2 for the Andy Miller Stable. Despite his overland trip Flyhawk Jester finished second.

Cash Value was sent to the front by D.R. Ackerman and they trotted uncontested throughout the mile and finished an easy winner over Slugfest and Ray Schnittker in their split. Owned by the Doug Ackerman Stable, the Cash Hall gelding won in a time of 2:03.

Delano, in rein to Ray Schnittker, trotted on the lead the entire way and finished an easy 2:03.2 winner over Stirling Adonis and Dan Daley. Schnittker shares ownership of the Credit Winner colt with Gareth Dowse, Tom Vassiliou and Nicholas Tallarico.

Macksmith and Sam Schillaci weaved their way around breaking horses on the first turn and they were on top at the quarter in :34.4. But from there the son of Credit Winner trotted the final three stanzas in 1:32 and the last half in 1:00.3 en route to their 2:06.4 triumph. Schillaci also co-owns with Howard Berke and Matt Bencic.

In their split John Wagner sent Barnegat Lane to the front and made the lead before the quarter. From there they breezed to a length victory over the odds-on favorite Sunpine and driver Bill Bailey in a 2:05.3 clocking with a :29.2 final stanza. Wagner co-owns the Conway Hall gelding with Syl King.

Though they only stopped the timer in 2:05.1 Ray Schnittker and My Man Dudley looked like shades of his old man when the son of Malabar Man cruised to a three length triumph over Studio City and John Wagner. My Man Dudley is co-owned by Schnittker, Mal and Janet Burroughs, and Jeff Gural.

A final $21,309 division saw A Penny Earned and driver Stephane Bouchard trot to a 2:03.2 triumph over Royal Shyster and Dan Daley. The good looking Conway Hall colt is owned by Nicky Oliva, George Ducharme, Paul Fontaine and Alfred Ross.

The races here were the first in the series for the colt trotters who’ll be looking to earn a berth in the rich finale in late September. And for each and every one of the starters it marked their first pari-mutuel starts.