by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The 2007 New York Sires Stakes program at Monticello Raceway came to an end on Thursday, September 20, after the last three late closer events were presented and when the dust had settled Vicar Hall, Perfect King and Red Hot each emerged victorious in their respective $9,800 divisions.

Racehorsephoto.com photo

Vicar Hall cruised to an easy 1:55.4 victory in his NYSS Late Closer division.

Vicar Hall, in rein to Stephane Bouchard, turned in the fastest clocking when the son of Pro Bono Best tripped the timer in 1:55.4. The big strapping colt had no trouble when he turned back seven others after Bouchard put him on the front end and together they made every pole a winning one en route to a three length triumph over Pro Matic, who was handled by Brian Allen. Cajun Champedo and driver Mike Forte finished third and the 5-1-2 trifecta returned only $6.10, which was the lowest trifecta payoff in Mighty M history.

The Purple Haze Stable owns Vicar Hall, who upped his seasonal bankroll to over $77,000. He is trained by Jessica Okusko.

Bouchard scored another NYSS late closer victory when he reined Perfect King to a 1:57.3 triumph. Again Bouchard gunned his pacer to the lead and after Perfect King rebuffed a challenge from Hollywood King (John Cummings, Jr.) up the backstretch — he ended up fourth — the second time around, the Riverboat King gelding held off a late charge from Optimus Attraction (Billy Parker, Jr.) to register a neck victory. After being interfered with at the start of the race, Happyending (Jimmy Marohn) rallied to finish third.

Owned by Joseph Meylan, Theresa Bantle and Eric Felter and trained by Ms. Bantle, Perfect King recorded his eighth seasonal triumph and pushed his yearly earnings to over $34,000.

Local teamster Jordan “the Kid” Stratton reined the other NYSS late closer winner when he guided Red Hot to a short neck victory over favored Brave Call (Stephane Bouchard) in a 1:58.3 clocking. Low Tide, with Bruce Aldrich, Jr. at the controls, finished third.

“The Kid,” who rode the passing lane to victory, registered his 118th triumph here which ranks the now 20-year-old seventh on the local leaderboard. Thus far this season Stratton has reined 153 winners overall.

Red Hot is owned and trained by Jodie Phillips.