Keep Asking sets Track Record in NYSS Win at Monticello

June 4, 2024

Tyler Buter and George Ducharme teamed up for back-to-back wins in Sire Stake -Excelsior competition and set a new track record in the process as Keep Asking established a new mark for 3-Year-Old Trotting Colts in 1:56. Eclipsing the old record of 1:56.1, formally held by Money Macintosh – Neon Lights of 1:56.1 set on the same day on July 17, 2017.

The Buter – Ducharme double started with Woweress (Crazy Wow – Chaperess) who scored in his division of the Excelsior Stakes in 1:58.1- $13.80 for owner and breeder Purple Haze Stables, LLC of Fairport, NY.

In the following race, a $59,000 heat of Sire Stakes, Keep Asking starting from the rail was content to let Super Duper Cooper and Jason Bartlett cut the mile after stringing him out a tad before he made the top in 28.2. Positions remained unchanged with splits of 58.0, 1:27.3, in the paddock turn Keep Asking popped out of the 2 hole, turning for home Nottingham (M. Miller) dove into the passing lane with Super Duper Cooper still on the lead, Keep Asking found another gear late in the lane to get the win and established a new track record of 1:56 It was his first seasonal win for the small son of Chapter Seven – Sensibility for owners W. Donavan, Joe Sbrocco, Jim Winske and George Ducharme

The second division of Sir Stakes was a 6-horse affair, Titan Your Grip and Unscripted both made breaks behind the gate and knocked themselves out of contention. Chaplind (Tyle Buter) were the first to the lead briefly as the 1/9 Sir Pinocchio and Jason Bartlett took control prior to a soft opener panel of 29.1 and the half in a soft 59.1. Down the back side Scott Zeron aboard Fly By where the first to pull the right line and mount a challenge at the next stanza in 1:28.1. Turning for home Chaplind made a break, Fly By make a strong attempt at the leader with a 27.4 kicker but it was too late as Sir Pinocchio held on for the win in 1 length win 1:56.0 – $2.10 Crazy Brother Jim (J. Marohn Jr) finished third. For the Dexter Cup winner, it was his first Sire Stakes victory of the year for the son of Mets Hall – Lady Cromwell who is trained by Edward Hart and is owned by Carolyn Atherton of Scarsdale, NY, with the win it pushed his seasonal earnings to over $115,000

In Excelsior action, the Paul Kelly trained Sky Box (EL Titan – Goddess) driven by Brent Holland picked up a new lifetime best with a 3 length win 1:57.4 – $3.40 for his second win on the year. Seven Minutes Abs (Chapter Seven – Fitness Girl) won for trainer – driver Claude Huckabone III in 2:00.4 to eke out a win by a head over Jacks Boy (M. Miller)

Bruce Aldrich Jr. registered a driving double on the 9-race card that generated a handle of $506,043.05 with a per race average of $56,227.