A royal upset in NYSS

Hambletonian-bound RC Royalty made an uncharacteristic break in his New York Sire Stakes division at Monticello Raceway on Monday, July 24, but recovered to finish third—just five days before the Hambletonian eliminations at the Meadowlands and the day before entering the box.

The 3-year-old trotting colt that beat the overwhelming favorite was Red Hot Kash, owned by Purple Haze Stables and scoring for the first time in 2006. The chestnut son of El Paso Kash and trainer-driver Howard Okusko Jr. rested in a pocket trip before sliding up the inside down the lane to win in 2:01.4. The colt broke at the wire, but that did not affect the order of finish. He boosted his career earnings to more than $64,000 with the victory.

RC Royalty, who broke in the second turn while trying for the top, came back on stride quickly and cruised through the rest of the race to follow Red Hot Kash up the rail in the stretch for third. Pacesetter Keptinthecloset was second.

RC Royalty’s trainer and driver Dan Daley was disappointed his colt’s performance. “He was sideways behind the gate and broke for no reason, so we spotted them seven or eight lengths three,” he said. “Then he hit the bike going into the second turn and broke again. He came back well and caught them.”

Owner and breeder Raymond “Chip” Campbell Jr. was at Monticello for the race and noted that the Credit Winner colt had a relatively uneventful two weeks following his Sire Stakes victory at Saratoga on July 12.

“I realize that bringing him here five days before the Hambletonian may be a little unconventional, but Dan would have trained him today or tomorrow anyway,” explained Campbell.

“We’ll see how he jogs (Tuesday) morning before we drop him into the box (for the Hambletonian),” Daley finished.

RC Royalty had not broke stride in a race since his last start at Monticello—a New York Sire Stakes event on Sept. 7 of last year, 13 starts ago.

For another pair of connections, returning to Monticello Raceway was rewarding. Skip and Wendy Spring of the W Springtime Racing Stable were called into the winner’s circle when their Credit Winner gelding Cold Winner won his fourth straight New York Sire Stakes event in 2:01.1 with co-owner and trainer John Stark Jr. on board.

“We haven’t won at Monticello since Bunny Lake,” Wendy said of the couple, recalling their champion pacing filly.

Owners Sam Trombley and Jack Siegel scored in their second New York Sire Stakes in three days when Toro Bravo won in 2:00.3 with Brian Allen up. The time was a new career mark for the Sir Taurus colt who now has $62,464 in career earnings. The partners also won Saturday at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway with their 2-year-old pacing colt Limo Service. Trombley trains both colts.

Celebrity Surfer completed the fastest division in 2:00.1 with Stephane Bouchard in the bike.

“He is very good here. He got around this track great and he still had a lot left in the tank at the end,” noted the driver.

The son of Meadowbranch Mike trained down at Cal-Expo and is leased and trained by California’s John Stephenson.

Kid Conway (Conway Hall) won for owner Fred Monteleone, who was up from Florida, in 2:01.2 with Chuck Connor Jr. Frank The Hands (Credit Winner) won in 2:02 for Ray Schnittker, Kelks Inc., Frank Baldassare and Paul Doherty.

Total purses for the six Sire Stakes divisions were $290,310.

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