Monticello, NY --- The marquee division of the New York Sire Stakes featuring 3-year-old pacing colts will be showcased on Monday (June 18) at Monticello Raceway. Three divisions of Sire Stakes will race for nearly $120,000, two heats of the Excelsior A class will go for $15,000 each; and one division of the Excelsior B has a purse of $6,800.
In the first division Real Surreal (post four) has been installed the 5-2 favorite with Scott Zeron in the bike. The game son of So Surreal has been knocking on the door to the winner’s circle for trainer Mark Steacy. Real Surreal finish second at Tioga Downs last start and had a third place at Vernon Down the prior week.
Topville Olympian, who took his lifetime mark of 1:56 at Monticello as a 2-year-old, has drawn the rail for trainer David Menary. The son of American Ideal is making his first seasonal start in Sire Stakes company and is seeking his first win of the year. Jordan Stratton will handle the driving chores.
Jersey Jim, the winner of the NYSS final at Yonkers last fall, drew post six in the first division, racing for a purse of $39,200. The son of Artiscape has yet to regain his 2-year-old form. Jim Devaux will drive.
The second heat is a seven-horse field. The morning line favorite Trump Nation will start from the far outside from post position seven. The son of Betterthancheddar was the winner of the $300,000 Art Rooney Pace at Yonkers in 1:51.3 and was second in his division of the Reynolds Stake also at Yonkers. The Chris Oakes trainee is owned by Crawford Farms and Evan Katz.
Ostro Hanover is a Monticello Raceway pupil for trainer Frank Yanoti. The son of Betterthancheddar will be driven by Jim Taggart Jr. Already a six-time winner this year, he has picked up checks in his last two Sire Stake starts, looking impressive in his third place finish at Vernon Downs in a blanket finish, pacing his mile in 1:50.
Rockapelo (post five) is moving up in class from the Excelsior A group. He scored an impressive win last start out at Tioga Downs were he jogged in 1:51.4 to win by 5-1/2 lengths. The son of Rock N Roll Heaven is trained by Linda Toscano for owner Enviro Stables.
My Delight (post four–Marcus Miller) highlights the final heat. The bay son of Betterthancheddar has won a Sire Stakes event this year at Vernon Down in 1:49.4. He is coming off a second-place finish in the same company at Tioga Downs. My Delight sports an impressive tally this year with two wins and three seconds in five starts and $44,895 in 2018 earnings.
Rock Lights (Rock N Roll Heaven) will benefit from the No. 2 post position. Scott Zeron is at the helm.
In the Excelsior A class (first division, race two), Casual Cool is being brought along very slowly this year by trainer Linda Toscano. The American Ideal colt has four qualifiers under his belt. A five-time winner at 2, he will start from post seven for owner Ken Jacobs.
There are two local connections in this group, Rocknroll Delight (trainer Gary Messenger–post five) and Prophet Blue Chip (trainer David Dziengiel-post six).
Trainer George Ducharme's Rocksapatriot is the favorite in the other Excelsior A dash. The son of Rockincam will start from the rail. He has been first or second in his four seasonal starts. Scott Zeron will be in the bike.
The track record for 3-year-old pacing colts is 1:52.1 set by Kenneth J in 2007.