Reigning champion sets track record in NYSS

HAMBURG, N.Y. — If anyone had any concerns about Boston Rocks (Boston Red Rocks-Scirocco Sarah) in his three-year-old harness racing campaign, he totally erased those doubts in the New York Sire Stakes for the sophomore male pacers at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday afternoon (June 5).

The reigning two-year-old New York Sire Stakes pacing champion, Boston Rocks ($2.30) showed he’s more than back after romping to an easy seven length victory over Vandiemen Bluechip in a career best of 1:52.2. The time also broke a long-standing Buffalo Raceway track record for three-year-old colts of 1:52.3 set on May 12, 2012, by Steelhead Hanover.

There was another Buffalo Raceway mark that was erased on the program as Forgot Thewallet A ($3.30) made her first appearance at Buffalo Raceway, and she stormed to a 10-1/2 length triumph over Flip The Script in the $14,000 Class A-Open Pace for the fillies and mares.

Forgot Thewallet A (Heston Blue Chip-Tara Lassie) covered the mile in 1:51.3, soundly crushing the old standard for aged pacing mares of 1:53.2 set on May 1, 2019, by Lady London. Billy Davis Jr. was in the bike behind Forgot Thewallet A and ironically was the driver of Lady London in her record setting performance. It was the fourth victory of the season for Forgot Thewallet A who is owned by Team Rice Racing LLC and is conditioned by Maria Rice.

After a pair of heart breaking second place finishes in his last two starts, Boston Rocks (Jason Bartlett) righted the ship in his $58,100 division. After settling third in the early going, Boston Rocks took over the lead approaching the quarter pole. With fractions of :28.1, :56.4 and 1:25.2 over the fast track, there was no looking back. The only questions down the stretch were how many lengths would Boston Rocks win by and if it would be in track record time. Both were answered quite convincingly.

After losing the war to Boston Rocks, Vandiemen Bluechip (Jim Morrill Jr.) won the battle for second place over Heave Away (Brett Beckwith).

Trained by Michael Deters and co-owned by Ricks Berks and Peter Blood, Boston Rocks has won twice in four starts in 2024, putting $58,300 in the bank and $410,222 in his brief stellar career.

In the first division, worth $57,000, Ameritric (American Ideal-Electric Fool) led every step of the way and beat Pop It by 1-3/4 lengths in a lifetime best of 1:52.3.

Off the starting gate, driver Brett Beckwith and Ameritric protected the pylon position, forcing the other remaining four participants to abort any leave attempts they may have had in mind. Jones Hanover broke stride around the clubhouse turn, thus leaving four to battle it out the rest of the way.

Ameritric set fractions of :27.4, :56.1 and 1:24.0 but had company on the outside as Taranaki (Mark Herschberger) got on even terms with a panel to pace. But Ameritric was more than up to the challenge and held his ground down the stretch to take the victory while Pop It (Mark MacDonald) rallied for second and Taranaki collected the show spot.

Owned by the Purple Haze Stables and trained by George Ducharme, Ameritric has four wins in six attempts this season, earning $53,760 and $109,815 in his career. He paid $5.20 to win.

There were three $20,000 divisions of the Excelsior Series. In the first bracket, Texas Holdem ($4.50) used a wicked stretch run through the lightning lane and nipped Voltage Blue Chip by a neck in 1:54.4.

The second division saw Escape To America come flying late and tipped Hurrikane Justin by a head in a career best 1:52.4. Jason Bartlett guided him to the $5.00 victory.

In the final race in the Excelsior Series, Beckwith notched a double as he steered Seen Here ($2.60) to his third straight victory with an impressive 3-1/4 length nod over Bruce’s Vo N Coke in 1:54.0.

Racing resumes on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with an 11-race program scheduled.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway