NYSS to rock at Buffalo with Boston Rocks

HAMBURG, N.Y. — The 3-year-old colt and gelding harness racing pacers are fondly known as the ‘glamour division’. When the New York Sire Stakes comes to Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday afternoon (June 5), one of the biggest stars in the classification will be headlining the 15-race program that begins at 2:30 p.m.

Boston Rocks (Boston Red Rocks-Scirocco Sarah), the New York Sire Stakes 2-year-old pacing champion and a winner of $382,172 in his brief career, tops the six-horse horse field that will go for $58,100 in the seventh race.

Last season, Boston Rocks smoked the field in 1:56.2 at Buffalo Raceway, beating Vandiemen Bluechip by 5-1/4 lengths. That was just a springboard of big things to come for Boston Rocks in 2023.

Boston Rocks has a win thus far in 2024, that coming at Tioga Downs on May 4. But since then, he has a pair of second place finishes including his last try where he finished second by a half a length in the NYSS at Saratoga Raceway.

Starting from the two post, Jason Bartlett is expected to grab the reins for trainer Michael Deters.

As luck would have it, Vandiemen Bluechip drew into the field against Boston Rocks again this year at Buffalo Raceway. Also, Darius, who claimed a victory last season in the NYSS at the half mile oval located at the Erie County Fairgrounds, is also in the stacked field.

Vandiemen Bluechip (Huntsville-Peppermint Patti) won $165,190 last year in just nine appearances. He hopes to change his fortunes this time around at Buffalo Raceway after being on the short end of the stick versus Boston Rocks.

Darius last season survived a bobble at the quarter pole and an inquiry but still defeated Dealers Turn in 1:57.0. Mark MacDonald will score Darius (Huntsville-Miss Sowo) from the rail.

Others in the seven-race field includes Heave Away (Brett Beckwith), Spring Blake (TBA) and local hopeful Salute America (Kyle Cummings).

The NYSS first division, carrying a purse of $57,000, will go off in the opener. There is a lot of hope and promises in this field with someone grabbing 50 valuable points along with a big paycheck.

Ameritric (Beckwith) drew the inside and finished third at Saratoga in the NYSS in his last start.

Cruzin America (Tyler Buter) has three second place finishes on his running lines this season while Taranaki (Mark Herschberger) has been in the money in all four of his starts on the campaign including two victories.

The remainder of the field includes Pop It (MacDonald) and Jones Hanover (Bartlett).

The program will also feature a trio of $20,000 events in the Excelsior Series for the sophomore male pacers along with the Open Pace for the ladies and two races in the Spring Up Series.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway