Send It Down Slim victorious in $113,400 NYSS

HAMBURG, N.Y. — Driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Ray Schnittker had a feast on Wednesday afternoon (June 11) at Buffalo Raceway. The pair had an appetizer of three harness racing victories in the $20,000 Excelsior events for the 3-year-old filly pacers then had the main course by having Send It Down Slim (Huntsville) take the $113,400 New York Sire Stakes giving them a clean sweep of races.

A smiling MacDonald said of his day after taking the win aboard Send It Down Slim ($3.00). “Yeah, it was a pretty good day and a good day for the horses too.”

In The New York Sire Stakes for the sophomore filly pacers, it was a small field of just four ladies, but they sure did provide for an exciting race.

The action was uneventful for the first three panels as Chanceoflightning (Jim Morrill Jr.) tossed up fractions of :28.1, :58.0 and 1:27.2 over the fast track. But the race began in earnest the last quarter mile.

Turning for home, Chanceoflightning had diminishing lead but Send It Down Slim was able to dart into the passing lane while Hurrikane Marigold (Drew Monti) took aim on the outside. Chanceoflightning didn’t waver much in the lane but just enough to let Send It Down Slim nudge her way ahead approaching the finish line. A three-way photo had Send It Down Slim topping a charging Hurrikane Marigold by a head while Chanceoflightning was close third in the event that went in 1:55.4.

MacDonald said while it was a smooth trip, there was an anxious moment during the race stating, “She (Send It Down Slim) tried to jump a shadow.”

Owned by the Grozcona Racing Stable and trained by Schnittker, Send It Down Slim (Huntsville-Rockinsangria) has now produced two victories in four tries on the season, pushing her seasonal bankroll to $80,275 and to $248,812 lifetime.

The MacDonald-Schnittker got things going early in the Excelsior as Huntingfortreasure ($2.10) topped Emmie One (Monti) by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:57.1. Cervi ($2.90) was next up and she held on to beat Queen Of Egypt (Joseph Chindano Jr.) by a head in 1:57.2. Bronx Mixer ($3.30) finished the Excelsior sweep with a 1-1/2 score over Dressed To Kill (Braxten Boyd) in 1:55.0.

Besides MacDonald’s heroics, Morrill Jr. completed the day with two victories while David McNeight III doubled. Cassandra Johnson finished with a training double.

Racing will return on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with a 14-race card set once again.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway