Thunder Hunter Joe and Goldin Greatness take New York Sire Stakes at Monticello

July 25, 2023

Monticello, N.Y. – Monticello Raceway featured the cream of the crop of New York State’s top three-year-old pacing colts on Monday, July 24. The afternoon almost saw a track record, great betting pools and a temperamental teletimer.

Prior to the first heat of the New York Sire Stakes, the clouds opened up and doused the track during a quick, five-minute rainfall. As the gate left, racing for a purse of $60,300, Hurrikane Hunter (Dube) made the front end in 28, while Huntinthelastdolar, the 4/5 favorite, worked hard on the outside to get the lead. After putting in a few extra steps in the paddock turn, he finally cleared to get the lead just before the ½ station in 56.2. As he rounded the first turn down the backside, he was again putting in steps. Eventually, he rolled off his feet, and made a break. Scott Zeron and Dan Dube did a masterful job in not creating a pile-up behind them. This cleared the way for Thunder Hunter Joe as he was on the move and in high gear before the miscue on the front end. He hit the next panel in 1:24.4. Coming off the last turn, Metal Man (Kakaley) took aim at the leader briefly, but to no avail, as Thunder Hunter Joe would win by five in 1:52.1 with Tyler Buter at the helm. That was just one tick off the track record held by For A Better Time. Metal Man finished second, followed by Duval Street (Bartlett). Nick Devita trains Thunder Hunter Joe, a son of Huntsville out of the Artsplace mare Thunder Angel. Today’s score was his second Sire Stakes win on the year and pushed his seasonal tally to $125,000.

The second heat saw eight sophomore pacing colts behind the gate vying for a piece of the $63,300 purse on the line. American Fling (Macdonald) was first to the front end but not for long, as the 2-1 I Was Tricked (Zeron) popped out of the two hole to grab the lead before the opening panel in 27.3. The positions remained unchanged at a soft half in 57, second quarter in 29.2. Down the backside, the second time around the 1-2 betting favorite Goldin Greatness was the first to pull and unleashed a wicked brush to the front, hitting the next station in 1:25, third quarter in 28.1. Turning for home, I Was Tricked took his best shot at Goldin Greatness but came up two lengths short as Goldin Greatness uncorked a final quarter of 27.1 and was a one-length winner in 1:52.2. Taste of Honey (Stratton) was third. It was the second consecutive Sire Stakes win for Goldin Greatness and for trainer Chris Ryder.

In Excelsior action, Demons Boy took his dash in 1:55.1 – $20.60. He was driven by Luke Hanners and is trained by Kevin Reynolds Jr. It was his second Excelsior win for the year. Next up saw This Dog Will Hunt (T. Buter) win his first race of the year in 1:54.2 – $21.00 for trainer Mike Simons. Johnny Sack (MacDonald) scored in a wire-to-wire win in 1:56.1 $3.50. The 3-5 favorite won by a length over Twin B Kingston (M. Miller). The son of Huntsville is trained by Ray Schnittker, who co-owns the colt along with Ted Gewertz and Nolamaura Racing LLC.

Huntsville ruled the day with four winners on the eight-race card that handled $533,334, with a per race average handle of $66,625. Tyler Buter had a driving double.

Sire Stakes action returns next Monday, July 31, when the three-year-old trotting colts visit the famed Catskill Mountain half-mile oval. Post time at 12:10 p.m.