Over $190,000 Up For Grabs in NYSS Trots for Sophomore Colts & Geldings
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 16:32
Monticello, NY - Could this be the year that a New York-bred trotter wins the famed Hambletonian? The last time that it has happened was in 1984 when Stanley Dancer drove Duenna to victory in the world’s most prestigious trotting race.
Whether any of the 39 youngsters who will start in the $190,000 N Y Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Thursday afternoon, July 29, will be good enough to enter the Hambletonian remains to be seen.
Five $38,000 divisions of New York’s finest sophomore trotters are on tap in races one, two, four, six and eight on the 15-race card that day.
Some of the colts racing Thursday have shown class, but of course, the step to the world’s biggest trotting race is huge.
However, Ray Schnittker has a couple starting Thursday that have raced in the Yonkers Trot, the first Jewel of the Triple Crown. They are Big Stick Lindy—he finished fourth in the eliminations—and Shaq Is Back who finished third in his elim but broke stride in the rich Final. Nice colts but Hambo quality? Time will tell.
Both colts are favored in their respective divisions, and both will start from the pole position; Big Stick Lindy , a son of Conway Hall, in race two and Shaq Is Back, a Credit Winner colt, in race eight. Ray Schnittker will handle the driving chores.
Then there’s Blacktuxwhitesocks, last year’s winner of the $175,000 NYSS Final. This son of Credit Winner won a NYSS event at Historic Track on July 4 in 1:57:3 and has three victories in seven seasonal starts this year. Jeff Gregory will handle the driving chores from post six in race one.
Aruba Vacation , a Dream Vacation colt, is getting better with every start. He’s won his last two and has four wins and two seconds and a record of 1:56:1 in six outings this season. Fern Paquet will drive when Aruba Vacation leaves from the two hole in race eight. He’s second choice on the morning line behind Shaq Is Back.
And Strong Hope, a CR Excalibur colt, already this season a winner of $143,000 with a record of 1:55:3 certainly has class. Mike Vanderkemp will be in the sulky when Strong Hope starts from post position two in race two against Big Stick Lindy.
Race favorites in the other NYSS events include, Celebrity BlueChip, post three in race four and Margarita Man, post six in race six. Jason Bartlett will drive the former while Ray Schnittker will be at the lines of the latter.
Post time for what will be a great afternoon of racing is at 12:50pm.
By John Manzi, Monticello Raceway
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