Monticello, NY --- It was the hottest day of the year thus far at Monticello Raceway on Monday afternoon (June 18) as temperatures broached 90 degrees as the New York Sires Stakes 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings came to town.
The first $39,200 heat of Sire Stakes went to post with six starters in the first race. Post time favorite Real Surreal put in a few extra steps as the gate left and made a break leaving.
Topville Olympian, starting from the rail for Jordan Stratton, protected his turf and was first away from the gate and took the field through fractions of :28.3 and :58.2. At the half Twin B Tuffenuff (Mark MacDonald) was the first to move and mounted a challenge. At the three-quarter stanza in 1:26.4 the pair were side by side. Jason Bartlett and Mr Profeta made a mild bid in the lane but to no avail and finished second as Topville Olympian held him off to win by a length in 1:55. Twin B Tuffenuff finished third.
The son of American Ideal took his lifetime mark last year at Monticello Raceway in Sire Stakes competition and also picked up his first win of the season. Topville Olympian is owned by Menary Racing, Crawford Farms Racing and Billy and Anthony Timmins.
Race seven was the second $39,900 heat of Sire Stakes. The post time favorite Trump Nation started from the outside post seven. As the gate left the son of Betterthancheddar was extremely wide in the first turn and had to be wrangled in by Jason Bartlett.
Rockapelo (post five) cut the mile for Marcus Miller and trainer Linda Toscano to the head of the stretch. Covered up the entire mile and saving ground was Ghost Dance (American Ideal) who won by three-quarters of a length for Scott Zeron in 1:54.4. Rockapelo would hold on for second. The local connection, Ostro Hanover (Jim Taggart Jr.), finished a game third for trainer Frank Yanoti and owner Twin Bridge Racing of Monticello N.Y. The hard to manage Trump Nation finished a disappointing fourth.
Ghost Dance is owned by Millar Farms.
The fastest race of the day came in the last race of the day, the $39,200 last division of the NYSS. The favorite My Delight did not leave and was content to let Rock Lights and Scott Zeron show the way and try to steal a wire-to-wire win through fractions of :28, :56.2, and 1:25. Rootin Tootin (Mark MacDonald) sat the garden seat the entire mile and charged through the middle of the pack in deep stretch to overtake Handsoffmychips by a half-length in 1:53.4.
Rootin Tootin is a son of Roll With Joe and picked up his second win of the year for trainer Blake Macintosh, who owns the colt with Stuart McIntosh, Fred Brayford and Robert MacNeil.
Excelsior A
Rumble (Rock N Roll Heaven) benefited from a pocket trip following pacesetter Major Offense and swooped the field of seven past the three-quarter pole to ramble to a one length win in 1:57.2 for Jason Bartlett.
Causal Cool, who made a break leaving the gate, was seventh and last by 14-3/4 lengths at the quarter pole. He regained his composure and slowly snaked his way back into contention and found room at the passing lane to close like a banshee to finish second.
Lets Roll did just that and won handily by 6-1/2 lengths in 1:54.1 in his $15,000 dash. The Roll With Joe colt made a big move down the backside for Jim Marohn Jr. and trainer Jake Huff for his third win of the year. Imstaynalive (Pat Lachance) finished second.
Excelsior B
The lone $6,800 division of the Excelsior B saw heavy favorite Striking Reality (Jason Bartlett) cut the mile. The eventual winner Asiago Romano was poised in perfect striking position and was the first to pull down the backside at the five-eighths pole. They passed the three-quarters in 1:27 before Asiago Romano prevailed by a neck in 1:57 and paid $22.20 for driver Jim Marohn Jr. The Dan Daley trained Striking Reality finished second.
Asiago Romano picked up his maiden win for trainer Jessica Okusko. The son of Betterthancheddar is owned by Amante Standardbreds.
Former Monticello Raceway regular Jim Marohn Jr. had two wins for the afternoon. Roll With Joe and American Ideal both sired a pair of winners on the card.