Dune Buggy takes $119,700 NYSS victory

HAMBURG, N.Y. — Dune Buggy (Huntsville) made an early move just past the opening quarter pole and that maneuver proved to be the winning one as he scored a head harness racing victory over a stubborn Oogleville in the $119,700 New York Sire Stakes for the sophomore colt and gelding pacers at Buffalo Raceway on a gorgeous Wednesday afternoon (June 4).

Oogleville, Red Blooded and Idealofaday had a skirmish for supremacy on the point in the early going. With Dune Buggy ($2.90) nestled into fourth place right before the first quarter pole, driver Jason Bartlett tipped him to the outside and quickly took over command.

With fractions of :56.4 and 1:25.1 in the books over the fast track, Dune Buggy was kept on task through the long home stretch. Oogleville (Kevin Cummings) made a desperate attempt at the pace-setter in the passing lane but just came up a head short. Ima Perfect Choice (Joseph Chindano Jr.) rallied for third place.

Owned by D. Hamm, Glenn Phillips and the Devita Racing Stable, the 3-year-old gelded Dune Buggy (Huntsville-Dune In Red) collected $59,850 for the victory. With three wins on the ledger in 2025, Dune Buggy now has $119,945 in prize money on the year and $124,565 lifetime. He is trained by Nicholas Devita who had a pair of conditioning wns on the card.

There were a pair of $20,000 Excelsior Series events for the sophomore male pacers and Baleville Bomber produced a ‘bomb’ in the first division with a $68.50 victory in a lifetime best of 1:56.3 over the fast track, beating Mr. Huggins by a head

It appeared down the stretch that it was going to be a battle between Mr. Huggins (Jason Bartlett) and EZ Spree (James McNeight Jr.) but Baleville Bomber (Kevin Cummings) was in high gear in the lightning lane and zoomed on by to collect the upset victory. Mr. Huggins held on for second place with EZ Spree taking show spot honors.

The 3-year-old gelded Baleville Bomber (Huntsville-Actress Hanover) is owned by D. Hamm, Glenn Phillips and the Devita Racing Stable and is trained by Devita. The win was his second in six starts, producing $16,400 in earnings on the year and $21,945 in his career.

The second bracket was true to form as Southpaw ($2.20) easily wired the field and beat Alabama Lucky (Mark MacDonald) by a length in 1:55.3 while Baby Squash (Kevin Cummings) took third.

Easily holding pylon position from the start, Southpaw (Jimmy Whittemore) reached the lead and notched fractions of :29.3, :58.1 and 1:27.3. In the lane, Southpaw had plenty of breathing room to play with and had enough to hold back the late rushing Alabama Lucky..

Owned and trained by Whittemore, the 3-year-old gelded Southpaw (American Ideal-Love You Bye) has now scored two victories in six attempts, putting $24,900 in the bank on the campaign and $111,200 lifetime.

Kevin Cummings completed the afternoon of racing with four wins while Kyle Swift and Denny Bucceri registered a pair. Lester Mullet had two training triumphs.

Racing will continue on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with a 13-race card slated.

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For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway