Sophomore filly pacers do battle in NYSS

HAMBURG, N.Y. — Last week, it was seven 3-year-old colts and geldings that went for a big harness racing purse in the New York Sires Stakes at Buffalo Raceway. Now it’s the ladies’ turn as just a field of four sophomore filly pacers will go to the post with a huge jackpot of $113,400 on the line in the seventh race on Wednesday afternoon (June 11).

There are two damsels who have tasted Sire Stakes action thus far in their careers.

Send It Down Slim (Huntsville) finished a solid second on June 1 in the New York Sire Stakes at Tioga on June 1, losing to She’s A Streaker by 1-1/2 lengths.

Trained by Ray Schnittker (Send It Down Slim (Huntsville-Rocksinsangria) earned $168,537 last year and finished third in the NYSS finale, losing to champion The Last Martini. She has finished in the money seven of eight times in her career and will start from the three post for Mark MacDonald.

Chanceoflightning (Courtly Choice-Admirals Chance) arrives on a three-race winning streak. After two victories at Saratoga, Chanceoflightning romped in the Excelsior Series at Tioga, notching a 6-3/4 length win in 1:54.1. She finished fourth in the NYSS championship race in 2024 and earned $84,690 last year without a victory. Chanceoflightning, conditioned by Cory Stratton, gets the rail for driver Jim Morrill Jr.

There are two lightly raced gals that will round out the field. Hurrikane Marigold (Huntsville-Lets Groove Tonight) has just four lifetime starts. She finished fifth in the NYSS at Tioga. John McDermott trains her and will have the services of driver Drew Monti who will score her from the two spot.

Tennis Queen (Roll With Joe-Serena Said) has just six career starts, two of which have come this season. She scored an impressive five length win on June 1 in the Excelsior Series, going the mile in 1:55.1 in breaking her maiden. Cameron Capone trains Tennis Queen and will have Braxten Boyd at the controls from the four hole.

There will also be three $20,000 Excelsior Series events for the 3-year-old filly pacers that will be sprinkled in the 14-race program that is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p..m.

For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, entries, results and race replays, go to www.buffaloraceway.com

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

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway