NYSS invades Buffalo Raceway Wednesday

HAMBURG, N.Y. — The parade of New York Sire Stakes champions from the 2023 harness racing season continues on Wednesday afternoon (June 12) at Buffalo Raceway as Peace Talks (American Ideal-Triple V Hanover, the reigning 2-year-old filly pacing princess, takes on six other rivals in the $117,700 event which is scheduled for the seventh race.

Last week, the 2023 2-year-old pacing colt and gelding winner, Boston Rocks, came to Buffalo Raceway and captured his $58,100 division with a record-breaking time of 1:52.2 in defeating Vandiemen Bluechip by seven lengths. Peace Talks is hoping that she has the same fortune.

Last season, Peace Talks grabbed the title at 39-to-1 as she roared down the Yonkers Raceway stretch and stunned So Well Dressed in 1:55.4 over the sloppy track. She completed the campaign with $229,329 in earnings.

If her last start is any indication, Peace Talks will be a force to be reckoned with once again. She blasted to a three quarters length win over Ponynamedwildfire in her $59,200 leg in the NYSS at Tioga on June 2 with a blazing 1:50.4 mile over the fast track. Jim Morrill Jr. is scheduled to guide her from the six post for trainer Chris Ryder.

There will be plenty of competition for Peace Talks in this wide-open affair. Camerican (American Ideal) collected $269,972 for trainer Ron Burke last season. She finished third to Peace Talks in the NYSS finale last year and was a solid third in the $700,000 Breeders Crown in 2023.

Hunting Hula (Huntsville-Hula’s Z Tam) has an impressive second place finish in the NYSS at Tioga should be a factor. She will score from the five post with Brett Beckwith scheduled to steer.

The wildcard in the race has to be Ponynamedwildfire (Huntsville-Worldly Treasure). Unraced in 2023, she has two wins and a second-place finish in her first three career appearances. The Ray Schnittker trainee finished second to Peace Talks in her last effort in the NYSS at Tioga, losing by just three quarters of a length. The only drawback is Ponynamedwildfire will start from the seven post in the seven-horse field.

Bronx Barista (Huntsville-Apricot Sour) was fourth in the NYSS finals in 2023 and has $101,153 in lifetime earnings.

Others in the field include Leanne’s Choice (Courtly Choice-Village Madonna) and Blue Point (Huntsville-Amber Blue Chip).

The track record for the 3-year-old filly pacers is 1:52.2 established by Gotthegreenlight on May 26, 2022.

There will also be a trio of $20,000 Excelsior Series races for the sophomore female pacers along with the $14,000 Open Pace for the ladies and a $20,000 finale in the Spring Up Series for the pacers.

Post time for the 13-race program is 2:30 p.m. There will be an $889 carryover in the Pick 5 which begins in the second race.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway