Monticello, NY – On Monday (July 14) Monticello Raceway hosted two divisions of each the New York Sire Stakes and Excelsior Series for 3-year-old trotting fillies, which saw Sunday’s Brunch and Sonmar Pond taking their respective NYSS divisions in short fields. Brett Beckwith won aboard Sonmar Pond and picked up three late catch drives and ended the day driving four winners.
The $58,000 first division of sire stakes action was a short field of five, with Chapvious, the 9-5 favorite with Jason Barlett in the bike, floated off the gate and made the front past the opening panel and set the tempo with splits of :29.1, :59 and 1:29. Entering the paddock turn, she made a break. Turning for home it was anyone’s race. The 22-1 Sunday’s Brunch and Jordan Stratton had a full head of steam coming off the turn with :28.1 last quarter powered her way on the outside to score a two-length win 1:57.4 – $46.00. Inn Of The Stars (T. Buter) was second followed by Royal Mission (B. Beckwith). With the win Sunday’s Brunch (Devious Man-Pearls Last Chance) took a new lifetime best for trainer Phil Fluet and owner Woodward Stable LLC.
The $56,900 second NYSS division, a four-horse field, saw Sonmar Pond (Chapter Seven-Plunge Blue Chip) wire the field in 1:58.3 – $15.20. Beckwith drove the winner for owner Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trainer Domenico Cecere. While mounting a challenge the 1-9 favorite My Debt Collecter made a break in the paddock turn. Calculus Risk (J. Stratton) was second with My Debt Collecter getting up for third.
Flashchap (Chapter Seven-Wing Flash) survived a few anxious steps leaving the gate, but Tyler Buter kept her together for a 1:58 win in the first $20,000 Excelsior division. It was her fourth Excelsior win of the year. She is trained by George Ducharme for owner Purple Haze Stables. Quite Like Me (J. Bartlett) finished second followed by Made Of Dreams (G. Merton).
The final Excelsior heat saw KJ Title (E L Titan-Aren’t I Hanover) score a two-length win in 1:57.1 – $10.80 for the local connections of trainer Gary Messenger and driver Greg Merton. The favorite Michelon’s Titan was second and Always A Story was third.
Kyle DiBenedetto, who is closing in on career win 7,000, had a driving double as did Jordan Stratton. Trainer Monica Eriksen also got on the board with a double.