Howlenthehills, Boston Rocks to face off in NYSS

Batavia, NY — The two hottest harness racing pacers currently competing in the 3-year-old colts and geldings division of the New York Sire Stakes will be at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (July 31) for a head-to-head tilt in the first of two $57,000 divisions that highlight the stellar mid-week card.

Howlenthehills (American Ideal-Arielle Lynn) has been on a tear this year, winning seven out of his eight starts with one second as well. That lone defeat came by only one-half length in the $225,000 MGM Messenger Stake final at Yonkers Raceway last month to his stablemate, Sweet Beach Life. Other than that, he’s been a wrecking ball since April over every track surface he’s been on.

He is undefeated in NYSS action this year, took a 1:50.1 lifetime mark at Vernon Downs in June and his overall efforts currently place him as the fourth richest 3-year-old male pacer in North America to date.

Boston Rocks (Boston Red Rocks-Scirocco Sarah) has started four times in NYSS action this year, winning twice and finishing second twice, with those two losses coming to Howlenthehills. His lifetime mark came in an overnight at Mohegan Sun Pocono when he paced around their red surface in 1:51.4 while pulling away by 7-1/2 lengths. He rolled that win into another devastating performance in his last start at Monticello Raceway, where he won his split of the NYSS in 1:52.3 by nine lengths in a laugher.

These two pacers have a lot in common.

Howlenthehills is the top point-getter (150) and highest earner ($101,600) in his NYSS classification while Boston Rocks is tied with him for points (150) while sitting second right behind him for earnings ($94,650)

But they also have a couple outstanding differences.

Howlenthehills was winless as a 2-year-old, including seven starts in the NYSS, and only earned $36,381. While in his first year of racing, Boston Rocks won four races, including three NYSS legs and the $225,000 final before making an appearance in the Breeders Crown final. All of which earned him $352,922.

The other major difference is Howlenthehills is a gelding while Boston Rocks is a colt. So there are two track records in jeopardy on Wednesday as a result of this match-up.

The Batavia Downs standard for a 3-year-old pacing gelding is 1:51.2 while for a 3-year-old pacing colt is 1:52.2, so this is something that bears watching.

Howlenthehills has drawn post one for trainer Travis Alexander and will tour the facility with Matt Kakaley once again in tow while Boston Rocks has post two, with his regular reinsman Jason Bartlett in the bike for trainer Mike Deters.

In the second division, Alexander will also be starting Huntingforchrome (Huntsville-All On Top Hanover) who is another horse who could stake a claim at a new track record as he comes into this start with a lot of asterisks, but also a lot of speed.

Huntingforchrome started out the year with two NYSS starts that yielded one second place finish for then trainer Jenn Bongiorno. Two weeks after that, the gelding found himself in Travis Alexander’s barn and has been a speed show on the Grand Circuit ever since.

His first start for Alexander was in the Meadowlands Pace elimination where he was race timed in 1:49.3, but he was rigged incorrectly according to Alexander in an interview after the race. With the proper changes made, Huntingforchrome then won a 3-year-old Open pace at the Meadowlands in a sparkling lifetime best 1:48.1, finished second in 1:49.1 by 1-3/4 lengths in the Adios elimination at the Meadows and then finished fourth in the Adios final by only 2-1/2 lengths while being race timed in 1:49.4. That start was only four days removed from this NYSS outing at Batavia, which is his first NYSS tilt since mid-June.

Alexander has Matt Kakaley in the bike behind Huntingforchrome and they will start from post five in this event.

His main competition appears to be Ameritric (American Ideal-Electric Fool) who is the only starter in this field with a NYSS victory this year, coming in a lifetime best 1:52.3 outing at Buffalo. Other than that, Ameritric has won three overnights and has posted the highest earnings of this group this year ($68,750).

Brett Beckwith will take the reins for trainer George Ducharme from post three.

Taranaki (Huntsville-Free Fi Girl) is as consistent as a horse can be, finishing seven out of nine starts in the money with four straight checks in the NYSS. He has gate speed and having drawn post one, will be in the mix from start to finish.

Trainer Paul Jessop has called upon local leading driver Kevin Cummings to steer this week.

The New York Sire Stake divisions will go as race seven and nine while the three $20,000 Excelsior races are carded as three, five and 11. Post time for race one is at 6 p.m.

by Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs