Monticello, NY —  After winning a qualifying race last week at Monticello in 2:00 after making breaks in two consecutive races, no one expected the track record performance from Groovin Will who got his act together Monday afternoon (July 29) in a New York Sire Stakes Excelsior event, setting a new record of 1:54.1, while breaking a five-year-old track record.

Groovin Will (Roll With Joe–Who Moved The Rock) set the new track record for 2-year-old pacing colts with Greg Merton in the bike in a $15.80 score over Invictus (Jordan Stratton), eclipsing the old record of 1:54.3 set by Melodies Major in 2018. 

Merton and Blake Macintosh took both halves of the early daily double with wins in the Excelsior Stakes and a $51,500 NYSS win with Courts On Fire (Courtly Choice-Ashlee’s Spitfire) in 1:55.3. 

The landscape changed in the second NYSS division worth $51,500 with the scratch of the undefeated Fast Choice. Silent Weapon (Huntsville–DD Delightful) motored home in a strong 6-1/2 length romp in 1:54.4 and earned his first pari-mutuel win for owner Fiddler’s Creek Stables. Matt Kakaley drove the Travis Alexander trainee.

New York Sire Stakes action returns to Monticello Raceway next Monday when 3-year-old filly pacers take the stage. Post time is 12:10 p.m.