Trotting colts in NYSS action at Buffalo

HAMBURG, N.Y. — The New York Sire Stakes harness racing calendar is now in full swing as the 2-year-olds are now starting to get into the action. Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday afternoon (June 29) will welcome the freshmen male trotters in a pair of $53,000 events.

There have been three track records smashed thus far by NYSS competitors at Buffalo Raceway and a pair of long-standing marks could go by the wayside in what is expected to be ideal racing conditions. The standard for the 2-year-old colt trotters is 1:58.4 established on July 13, 2016, by Money Macintosh while the gelding record is 2:01.2 set on June 30, 2013, by The Lindy Treaty.

There’s not much experience among the 14 entrants in the Sire Stakes as only four have had a pari-mutuel start in their career. They’ll all be scrambling for early points in the standings, hoping to land a berth in the $200,000 ‘Night Of Champions’ at Tioga Downs on Saturday, September 10.

In the first division, set for the third race, Maximum Express (Credit Winner, Drew Monti) has had one start and that was a winner, collecting a 3-1/2 length victory in 2:01.1 on June 19 at Vernon Downs. He was successful in his qualifier as well at Vernon, rolling to a 4-3/4 length score in 2:00.1.

The Andy and Julie Miller barn always comes to Buffalo Raceway loaded with talent and At Worlds End (E L Titan) could be one to catch. He cruised to an impressive 6-1/2 win in 1:59.0 at Gaitway in his lone qualifier. Andy Miller will drive At Worlds End from post five.

Others in the field include Kennebago (E L Titan, Trond Smedshammer), Heza Scoundrel (E L Titan, Jim Morrill Jr.), Unique Style (Chapter Seven, Mark MacDonald), Useyourlovetonight (Chapter Seven, Aaron Byron) and Daley Rep (Dan Daley).

The second bracket, set for the fourth race, looks like a wide-open affair. The race features Sevecheetah (Chapter Seven) who is owned by The Purple Haze Stables of nearby Fairport, N.Y. The Smedshammer trained and driven sidewinder had two qualifiers at The Meadowlands where he finished in second and fourth.

Crazy Ritz (Crazy Wow, Tom Mays), Hit Like Crazy (Crazy Wow, Daley) and Trump De Vie (Devious Man, Michael McGivern) were the only ones who tasted victories in qualifying action.

Others in the field include Wild Bill Kelso (Crazy Wow, Scott Zeron), The Good Book (Chapter Seven, MacDonald) and Jax Spratt (Devious Man, Monti).

The 10-race card, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., opens up with a $15,000 Excelsior A race while the $6,500 Excelsior B contest will go off in the seventh.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway