Category: Racing News

By: Shawn Wiles
Photo Credit: Geri Schwarz 

On Monday May 13, the New York Sire Stakes made their first stop of the year at Monticello Raceway for 3 Year Old Pacing Colts, the conditions were less than ideal as it was a cold, rainy raw day that was reminiscent of a fall day and certainly not the middle of May. 

Hickfromfrenchlick, the Ray Schnittker trained son of So Surreal started from post position 4 and went off the 1/5 odds on favorite in the 6 – horse field. Hickfromfrenchlick (Mark Macdonald) lead the pack every step of the way, reeling off even rated fractions of 28.2, 58.1 1:28.1, American Mercury (Tim Tetrick) were the first to move down the backside as the outer flow developed with Stone Hanover right behind him. It looked like Hickfromfrenchlick was going in for an easy layup but American Mecury was not done yet as the duo paced home strong, but Hickfromfrenchlick rebuffed American Mercury by a scant neck to score in 1:55, pacing his last ¼ in 27 in the fastest mile of the afternoon. Stone Hanover finished 3^rd, coming home in 26.4.  Hickfromfrenchlick is owned by Ray Schnittker, Nolamaura Racing LLC and TC Spatorico. 

In the second heat of Sire Stakes, it was a race of the Major’s, Major Blake left fast from post 4 from the gate but decided to take the 2- hole tuck as Major March from the rail cut the steady fractions of 28.2,58.1 1:26.4, Respect The Flag and Astarie angled out past the ¾ maker in an effort to start tracking down Major Blake, but their efforts were thwarted as he coasted to a 2 length victory in 1:55.  Major March is trained by soon to be Hall of Famer Linda Toscano, the Art Major – Mach You And Me colt is owned by Bay Pond Racing Stable of Malvern, PA.  Major Blake was 2^nd and Astaire finished 3rd 

The highly touted Reigning Deo highlighted the last heat of Sire Stakes in the 6^th race, the Rock N Roll Heaven colt started from the rail and was the 3/5 favorite going to post. Dealer’s Table (PP4) and Jason Bartlett cut the soft fractions to the ¾ pole 29.3, 59.3 1:28.1.  Rollwithpapajoe (T. Buter) was the first to come off the rail approaching the half, he continued the overland route with no cover.  Heading for home he rolled to an easy 3 length win over Reigning Deo held on for 2^nd place followed by Covered Bridge. Rollwithpapajoe is trained Jenn Bongiorno, The Roll With Joe colt is owned by Barbara Bongiorno, BK Lambos and D. Libertos. 

The Excelsior A contest’s saw Shim (American ideal – Feel Life) leave the gate unhurried to rally over Caviart Cale in 1:58.3 for Trainer – Driver and part owner Pat Lachance, in the second A class Surreal Art (So Surreal – Artcotic) was content to sit the pocket while Shanghai Bobby cut the mile.  It was a good battle down the lane between the two but Surreal Art hung on for a neck victory over Shanhai Phil in 1:55.1 

Sire Stats for the afternoon showed American Ideal and So Surreal both had 2 winners, Jason Bartlett and Patrick LaChance each had a driving double on the chilly afternoon.  $461,000 was wagered on the 8- race card for a per race average of $57,625.  

By: Shawn Wiles

On Monday afternoon May 13, the New York Sire Stakes Circuit will make its 2019 debut as the glamour division of 3-year-old pacing colts come to town.  Going to post will be 3 divisions of Sire Stakes ($38,000) 2 splits of the Excelsior A class ($15,000) and 1 Excelsior B ($6,700) 

The first division of Sire Stakes ($38,200) will go to post in race 1 with 7 entries,  Hickfromfrenchlick (PP4) has been pegged the morning line favorite.  The So Surreal colt had a very productive year as a 2-year-old where he earned $138,541 and earned a speed badge of 1:51.3.  Last week he had an easy tightener at Pocono Down where he romped in 1:53.3 to win by 8 ½ lengths for trainer Ray Schnittker. Local favorite KJ Leo will start from post 6, last year the Gary Messenger trained colt won the NYSS Consolation at Yonkers and finished the year with $68,292 in earnings. This year the Art Major colt won a conditioned race last week at Monticello Raceway in 1:57.1, regular driver Jim Taggart Jr. will drive.    

The 2^nd division of Sire Stakes features Respect Our Flag who was sharp in his performance 2 weeks ago where he scored in 1:49.2 at the Meadowlands for trainer Jenn Bongiorno, Joe Bongiorno will drive the son of Roll With Joe.  Sam Schillaci brings  Major Blake to fray, the son of Art Major has had 3 winning qualifiers under his belt at his home track Northfield Park, Major March will start from the rail for trainer Linda Toscano, the Art Major colt is owned by Bay Pond Racing, Jason Bartlett will drive.    

The final heat of Sire Stakes action is in race 7 and highlights Reigning Deo, the winner of last year’s NYSS final at Yonkers Raceway in 1:54.4, the son of Rock N Roll Heaven will start from the rail with Jim Morrill Jr. at the helm for trainer Brett Pelling.  After winning the NYSS final last fall, Reigning Deo dabbled in Grand Circuit competition and finished the year with $243,163., ranking him in the top 10 2 YOPC earners.

The Excelsior A, class first heat highlights Jack Nation (PP4) , the son of American Ideal took his Lifetime mark as a 2 YO at Monticello Raceway in 1:57 for Blake Macintosh, Mark Macdonald will handle the driving assignment.   

Post time for the 8-race card is 12:50 

On any given day, there are a handful of drivers at Monticello Raceway that can win 5 races in a day, today was Jim Devaux’s the day. Austin Siegelman has experienced the quintuple 4 times already this year.

4 of Devaux’s win came in the wire to wire fashion, he won the first race with Let Me Explain (2:00.1 – $9.40) The Murray Bassen trained Bestgirlfreindever took race 3 (2:00.4 – $2.70) for her second win of the season. Mylittlesurfergirl from the rail found the 2-hole journey to her liking and won the 5th (1:56.3 – $4.10) giving trainer Murray Bassen a training double. Meadowbranch Max accounted for the 4th win of the car (2:02.1 – $3.20) Kamwood Laughter N (1:58 – $2.80) rounded out the afternoon, the 12 year old Live or Die mare notched her 5 win of the season for trainer Joseph Skowyra.

With the 5 wins on the card, Devaux is currently in 3rd place for leading Dash winning drivers with 61, Mike Merton is 2nd with 70 and Austin Siegelman is atop the leader board with 99 wins. A total of $525,000 was wagered on the afternoon for a race average of $65,000.

It is beginning to sound like a broken record or a repeated headline, but for the fourth time this year Austin Siegelman won five races at Monticello Raceway.

He proceeded to win the first 3 races Boostwiththefur (1:59.1- $3.10), Cheep Sunglasses (2:02 – $6.30) Gonna Fly (1:58 – $10.80) he finished 3rd in the 4th race. Four Starzz Lefty (1:59.3 – $10.20 won the 5th race. Austin finished 2nd in the 7th race with Cerisier. Adorabella, a 3-year-old Pet Rock filly earned Siegelman his 5th win of the day for trainer Jody Riedel, the filly won her first pari mutual race.

With Jimmy Devaux opting to drive at Saratoga during the week, Siegelman has been afforded more driving opportunities and is making the best of it
The five wins from today has vaulted Siegelman to the top of the leading dash winners at Monticello Raceway with 85 wins, Mike Merton is second with 64. James DeVaux 52 and Bruce Aldrich in 4th with 49 wins. Siegelman has won 118 races thus far in 2019, at other venues which is good enough to earn him the 6th place nationally for leading $676,073.

Monticello Raceway will alter is post time on Monday March 4, the revised seasonal Post Time will now be 12:50 Monday through Thursday.

No, it’s not a typo, yesterday at Monticello Raceway Austin won 5 races and today he duplicated the exact same feat.

Siegelman won the second race of the afternoon with Reflexionofroyalty from the rail in 2:00.1 and returned a $8.50 win pari-mutuel, it was the first win of the season for Reflexionofroylaty. Histoire Eternelle (PP4) gave Austin his second win of the day, as he scored a wire to wire win in 1:57 for trainer Chris Petrelli. He came right back in the following race to score with Victory Singer (1:59.4 – $2.60) it was the 3rd win a row for Victory Singer. In the 7th race it was Sky Guy from post position 8, to win by 3 lengths after cutting the entire mile in 1:57.1, the son of Sportswriter is trained by Thomas Merton. The last win of the afternoon came aboard Celtic Art, the Joe Moeykens trained son of Artiscape won in 1:59 and paid $10.40 to win.

The top 4 drivers are in a bottleneck for leading dash winner with 3 drivers Bruce Aldrich Jr. Michael Merton, and James Devaux all tied with 34 wins, Austin is in close pursuit with 33 wins. Over $780,000 was wagered on the 10-race card.

Live racing returns on Monday with a 12:25 post time.

It doesn’t seem to matter who Jennifer “the Golden Girl” Lappe races against; amateurs or professionals. She does equally well against both.
Today(Nov. 8) at Monticello Raceway she had a driving double on the betting card when she won an amateur contest in race two, and then came right back with a victory against professional drivers in race three. And currently “the Golden Girl” is ringing up stats that the professionals would be proud of.

Her first victory was with Multitaskr Hanover ($4.60) in 2:00.1, which, by the way, was Lappe’s second consecutive triumph with the Explosive Matter gelding. In today’s contest”Coach Paul” Minore hustled
Wygant Prince to the front but “Yankee Joe” Lee, with On The Podium, parked him to a :28.4 first quarter before he allowed Minore to take charge. At that point Lappe was in third position along the pylons after starting from the three-hole.

When he field rounded the second turn and headed down the stretch On The Podium was still the race leader in a the :58.4 clocked half. As the field trotted to the third stanza Lappe moved Multitaskr Hanover off the pylons and made a serious challenge for the lead. But as they trotted by the three quarters Lappe’s horse tried to pull- up but expertly she allowed him to drift so as not to go off-stride and once she settled him they got back in the race. However, Ms Lappe displayed her displeasure with her trotter’s drifting and she went to work on getting him back to strongly challenge On the Podium as they rounded the final turn. In the lane Multtaskr Hanover trotted to the lead and went on to a one-length triumph over On The Podium. Fiji, with Dave “the Rave” Offenberg at the controls, came from far back to finish third.

Although she didn’t have much time to hang up the lines after her victory and get Giddy Up Delight ready for the very next race, she did however, explain that Multitaskr Hanover lost his left front shoe in the post parade and they returned to the paddock to have it nailed on.

“I was grateful that we found the shoe and that the paddock blacksmith nailed it in place; But it took quite a while,” Lappe said of the ordeal that caused a big delay at the start of the race.” When we did get back on the racetrack we had no time to score down and had to go directly behind the starting gate . And I think a cold start confused Multitaskr and in the race he tried to pull-up before the final turn. But what ever it was once I got him back heading in the right direction he was full of trot.”

After her three-length 1:57.4 pacing victory with Giddy Up Delight ($10.80)in the following race “the Golden Girl” currently has 35 wins, 43 seconds and 53 thirds in 288 seasonal starts, good for a .266UDR. Lappe has a big stable and as a trainer of record this season she has 92 wins in 557 starts good for a .298UDR.
Geri Schwarz photos

By: John Manzi

Two solid divisions for members of the North American Amateur Drivers Association were presented on the pleasant fall afternoon of November 1 at Monticello Raceway and when the judges hung the official signs Jennifer Lappe and Alan Schwartz won their respective splits; Lappe with Multitaskr Hanover in 2:00.4 and Schwartz up behind Peoplesayimnogood in 1:59.1.

In the first division Lappe hustled her trotter to the lead as the wings of the mobile gate folded and they had command with Ladys Big Stormont out on the limb when the field headed for the quarter pole.

As they approached the first marker Lappe grabbed leather and allowed Schwartz’s charge to take command as the timer flashed :28.4. Content to enjoy a covered trip Lappe followed Schwartz’s lead and Ladys Big Stormont trotted by the halfway point in :59.3.

Still being stalked as the field passed the three quarters Ladys Big Stoemon seemed comfortable, but when the two rounded the final turn Lappe slide out from behind her cover and Multitaskr Hanover trotted to the lead and finished one length better than Ladys Big Stormont. Third place went to Gianni and driver, Bob Davis in the 2:00.2 trotted mile.

Asked why she chose to move to the outside when the field rounded the final turn instead of taking advantage of the passing lane, Lappe responded ; “my horse drifted out coming off the turn so instead of trying to angle him back toward the passing lane I gave him his head and he responded wonderfully by trotting around Alan’s horse and on to an easy victory.”

It was the 30th driving victory this year for Ms Lappe who not only competes in amateur races but also drives against the professionals. Currently, to go along with her 30 wins, are 43 seconds and 53 thirds and a respectful ,256 UDR from 280 starts thus far this year. It was also her 87th training victory for the accomplished horsewoman.

Ms Lappe owns and trains the winner who paid $8.80.

Although he finished second in the first NAADA trot Alan Schwartz made amends when he rallied Peoplesayimnogood to a three-length triumph in the second division.

After starting from the three-hole Schwartz eased his trotter to the pylons when the gate sprung and Joe Faraldo sent Tough Get Going toward the front but Joe Lee, with Tim Lizzie, parked him by the first quarter in :28.2.
Once in command Faraldo kept the pedal to the metal and Tough Get Going opened a five-length lead as they trotted by the half in :57.2. At that point Schwartz’s trotter was third, some seven lengths off the lead, but as Tough Get Going passed the three quarters he only had two lengths on the field and Schwartz rallied Peoplesayimnogood to third position. When he rounded the final turn Schwartz took aim at a leg-weary Tough Get Going and by mid-stretch Peoplesayimnogood had command and were pulling away and went on to a three-length triumph in a 1:59.1 clocking. Third place went to Celebrity Blue Chip, driven by Jennifer Lappe.

“This was the first time I drove Peoplesayimnogood and I didn’t know much him since he did most of his racing out of town. But he was a perfect horse to drive,” Schwartz said after the race.” We had a covered trip and when I pulled him it was ‘ballgame’.”

The winner, who notched his 7th seasonal triumph, is owned by Dr. Scott Woogen and trained by Gary Messenger. He paid $15.20 for win. And for Schwartz it was his 11th seasonal triumph and 607th of his brilliant amateur career.

At Monticello Raceway on Monday afternoon October 29, an anomaly of sorts took place, 2 (P) Provisional Drivers both notched their maiden driving wins in back to back races. In race 3, 22-year-old Christopher Doherty got his first win in only his 3rd P drive, aboard Sheer Action who won by 4 lengths in 2:00.4 and paid $6.20 to win and is trained by Jim Doherty Jr.

In the next race, 25-year-old Philip Lacorte III driving for just the 9th time in his young career, scored his maiden win with 5 length wire to wire score with J Danae in 2:02.1 and paid $4.90, the 7-year-old Nuclear Legacy mare is also trained by Lacorte III.

Thursday November 1, Monticello Raceway will alter its post time to 12:25 and will continue to maintain its 4-day race schedule of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.