One NYSS dash for $115,600 at Buffalo

HAMBURG, N.Y. — There are six entrants set to compete in the 3-year-old colt and gelding harness racing trot in the New York Sire Stakes at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday afternoon (May 18) but two things are for certain, they bring plenty of talent and a huge payday awaits them at the finish line.

A pair of finalists from last year’s $200,000 New York Sire Stakes finals for the freshmen colt and gelding trotters will shuffle off to Buffalo Raceway for Wednesday’s battle while the champion of the $50,000 Excelsior A series will also take part in the festivities. The race is scheduled for the fifth on the 10-race program with a total purse of $115,600, $57,800 going to the winner.

Quincy Market and Chapheart were both participants in the NYSS 2021 Night Of Champions at Yonkers. While finishing out of the money, they begin their summertime grind throughout New York State in hopes to land another berth in the finals.

Debs Prince Hall captured the crown in the $50,000 Excelsior A finals last season, winning by a neck in 1:59.2 at Vernon Downs and arrives sharp and ready to roll.

The remainder of the field includes Valentine Express (John MacDonald), Castle House (Kasper Foget) and Velvet Style (Mark MacDonald).

Quincy Market (E L Titan-Dance To Market) is the top money earner in the field from 2021 with a bankroll of $77,458. Drawing the two position, he finished in the money in six of eight starts which included two victories. Quincy Market (Jim Morrill Jr.) has found success in Western New York as he captured his division of the NYSS at Batavia Downs in 1:59.3 on August 4, 2021. Unfortunately, while qualifying for the NYSS finals, he finished up the track.

Chapheart, who will start from the four spot, is the local connection in the race as he is owned by the Purple Haze Stables of nearby Fairport, N.Y. Trained and to be driven by Trond Smedshammer, Chapheart (Chapter Seven-Hip To My Heart) comes in fresh off a six length victory at Yonkers on May 5 in 1:57.3. He finished a disappointing but distant seventh at Yonkers in the NYSS finale, largely due to interference approaching the three quarter marker.

Debs Prince Hall (Alek Chartrand), Excelsior A Series champion, has had five starts in 2022, all at Saratoga Raceway. He comes in riding a two-race win streak including a gate-to-wire job in 1:56.3 on May 1 and a front-running half length score in 1:57.0 on May 9. He drew the five post for the contest.

The gentlemen could be firing at the track records as well. The gelding mark for 3-year-old trotters is 1:56.2 set on June 7, 2018, by Purpose Blue Chip (Dan Daley) while Gural Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr.) holds the colt mark of 1:56.1 established on June 29, 2014.

There will be a $15,000 Excelsior A event that will go off as the second race. Post time for the program is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. There’s also a $3,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick 5 which begins in the second race.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway