Final Leg of Sire Stakes at Monticello Raceway

August 19, 2019

By Shawn Wiles

Monticello – The last leg of New York Sire Stakes will take place on Monday August 19 as 2 Year Old Trotting Colts close out the season.  2 divisions of Sire Stakes ($51,000) are featured on the 8 race card. While this may be the last Sire Stakes of the season it may be one of the better fields, as it features former and current Batavia Downs track record holders Bourbon Express and Barn Holder.

Race 1 on the card is the first heat of Sire Stakes action, Bourbon Express has been installed the 4/5 favorite. He won his recent Sire Stakes at Batavia Down and set the track record in 1:57.3, before the ink was dry Barn Holden lowered it by 2/5 of a second, he also scored in the same company in Buffalo Raceway.  Bourbon Express will start from post 3 in the short field of 5 with regular driver Jason Bartlett for trainer Jessica Okusko.  The son of RC Royalty  – Kasha has earned over $78,000 and been on the board in every start for owners Salavtore Vulio, James De Armond and Jessica Okusko. Beerthirty K will start from the rail, the Bruce Borden trained son of Credit Winner, took his lifetime mark of 1:58 at Yonkers in a NYSS win, defeating Bourbon Express in the process.

Leading point earner Barn Holden will start from post position 5 for trainer Steve “Barn” Pratt.  The son of Conway Hall – Barn Babe has won 3 Sire Stakes event thus far in his freshman campaign, the wins coming at Yonkers, Vernon Down and he set the track record at Batavia Downs in his last start in an 8 ¾ length romp in 1:57.1.  Andy Miller will drive the $45,000 Morrisville yearling for owners Steve & Nancy Pratt, Purple Haze and Out In The Country Stable, Barn Holden has earned $90,000 in 5 starts.  DR Ackerman and Tompkins Stakes winner Saylor will start form outside post 6. Berkery J (PP4) won a division of Sire Stakes early in the season of Yonkers, the son of Chapter Seven is trained by George Ducharme for owner Ken Jacobs $205,000 yearling purchase. The current Monticello Raceway track record is 1:58 set by former 2 YOTC of the year Fourth Dimension, if the weather man cooperates that record may be in jeopardy on Monday.

The Excelsior series each has 2 divisions, the A class will be racing for purse of $15,000 per heat and the B heats will vie for $6,600 in each heat.

Post time is 12:50