Two-year-olds prepare for NYSS battle

HAMBURG, N.Y. — While the 2024 live harness racing season winds down at Buffalo Raceway with just seven programs remaining, the New York Sire Stakes is just getting into high gear as the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers arrive on Wednesday afternoon (July 10) with a pair of $52,500 battles to be contested.

The first division is slated for the seventh race as a rematch of the $77,300 event at Yonkers Raceway on June 27 is on tap.

In his career debut, Fast Choice (Courtly Choice-Fashion Guru) took that race at Yonkers with a 1-3/4 length nod over Courts On Fire in 1:54.2. The Jared Bako trainee will start from the five post as Scott Zeron is listed as the driver.

Fast Choice is going to be sandwiched on the starting grid by Courts On Fire (Courtly Choice-Ashlee’s Spitfire) and Watch My Warrior (So Surreal-Girlofyourdreams) who will start from the four and six spots respectively.

Courts On Fire (Jim Morrill Jr.) was a solid second to Fast Choice in his initial appearance while Watch My Warrior (Barton Dalious) gathered fourth place honors but was 11-1/4 lengths behind Fast Choice.

Others in the bracket include Farkle (Drew Monti), Meltdown Monte (Tyler Buter) and Alabama Lucky (Mark MacDonald).

The second division finds six gentlemen looking to notch their first parimutuel victory.

Idealofaday (American Ideal-Day Blue Chip) was the closest in reaching that goal as he finished second by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:56.1 to Thirsty Thursday in the NYSS at Yonkers on June 27. Idealofaday has Zeron scheduled to pilot him from the six hole.

Holt Hanover (Huntsville-Heart Major) closed a ton in the NYSS at Yonkers, rallying from seventh place to fourth in the loss to Fast Choice. MacDonald will score him from the fourth position.

SG Exit Velocity (Monti) was sitting fourth in his career debut in the NYSS at Yonkers but broke stride and ended up sixth, more than 20 lengths behind Thirsty Thursday. With a smoother journey around the Buffalo Raceway half mile oval, SG Exit Velocity could be troublesome.

The remainder of the field includes Brayden’s Bandit (Morrill Jr.), Digging For Gold (Brett Beckwith) and Invictus (Buter)

There are a trio of $20,000 races in the Excelsior Series as well for the freshmen pacers. Post time for the 13-race program is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

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

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway