18-year-old driver gets first win

HAMBURG, N.Y. — The number 13 has always had the connotation of being bad luck. For harness racing driver Kyle Swift, it was anything but that.

Driving in just his 13th career start, on the 13th race on the Buffalo Raceway program Saturday night (July 8), the 18-year-old Swift posted his first pari-mutuel victory of his life by steering Big Place ($7.20) to the right place, the winner’s circle, in 1:58.2.

Swift, who turned 18 on July 1, had a pair of second and a pair of third place finishes in his 12 previous tries before hitting pay dirt. Big Place is trained by Kyle’s mother, Ryan Swift and owned by Daniel Mullet.

In the featured $13,500 pacing event, One Off Delight A ($3.90) was ‘spot on’ by toppling Avion Seelster by two lengths in a seasonal best of 1:53.1 over the fast track.

Sliding back down in class after a visit in Open company, One Off Delight A (Jim Morrill Jr.) found the softer level to his liking.

Sitting in third behind the pace setting Isla Seelster and American Trademark, through opening splits of :28.0 and :57.0, One Off Delight A started his first over journey just before the half.

Grinding it out on the rim down the back stretch the final time, One Off Delight A got into high gear approaching the three quarter pole and quickly had a two length advantage turning for home.

Down the stretch, One Off Delight A and Morrill Jr. enjoyed the Buffalo Raceway scenery as they turned in a :28.0 last quarter to ease to the victory. Avion Seelster (Ray Fisher Jr.) held on for second while American Trademark (Keith Kash Jr.) was third. For American Trademark, it was another close but no cigar again as it was his seventh straight second or third place finish.

Owned by Michael Torcello and trained by Samuel Smith, it was the second win in 21 outings for the 9-year-old gelded One Off Delight A (Bettor’s Delight-Tiger Su). The win upped his 2023 bankroll to $40,310 and $342,017 lifetime.

While Swift collected his first career win, a pair of seasoned veterans, Jim Morrill Jr. and Kevin Cummings, each had driving triples with Ray Fisher Jr. getting two. Smith collected four training victories on the program.

Racing will continue on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with a 13-race card slated. The New York Sires Stakes returns once again as a pair of $52,500 races are set for the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers. There is also a trio of $20,000 Excelsior Series events for the gentlemen.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway