Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings will mark the final New York Sire Stakes stop of the year at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (September 14), and some of the entrants will be looking to solidify their spot in the $1.8 million Night of Champions at Yonkers Raceway, which will take place on Saturday, September 24.
Stablemates Devious Man and Money MacIntosh from the Julie Miller stable have already advanced as the top two point-earners in the series. On Wednesday they can concentrate solely on the $107,000 in purse money that will be available.
Devious Man (Credit Winner-Miss Garland) has won three consecutive NYSS events after having made a break in the $294,450 Peter Haughton Memorial at the Meadowlands Racetrack on August 6. He won in the mud at both Yonkers Raceway and Tioga Downs, the latter effort set his lifetime mark at 1:55.3. And then, the following week, he won again back at Yonkers in 1:58.3. He’s a very handy horse, as he has won from the back and on the front.
In all, Devious Man has four wins this year, all in NYSS action, and $140,983 in earnings -- $125,397 of that total was made in the NYSS, which thus makes him the highest money earner for his age, gait and gender. He is also the second highest point-earner (237) for his category.
Andy Miller will make an infrequent stop at the Genesee County oval to drive Devious Man for his wife, Julie Miller, from Post 6, and has been made the prohibitive morning line favourite at 1-1 in the first $53,500 division.
Stick With Me Kid (Deweycheatumnhowe-Chelsea Hall) has only one win to his credit this year, but it was an impressive outing in the NYSS at Vernon Downs on July 21. He pulled from off the pace and trotted away to victory in 1:56.2, which was his career best. Chris Lems sat behind him for that start and trainer George Ducharme has him up again on Wednesday.
Looking to add to his $64,051 in earnings and points to his total for the final, Stick With Me Kid has drawn Post 1, is the second choice at 7-2, and looks to be the stiffest competition for the favourite.
In the second $53,500 split, Julie Miller’s Money MacIntosh (Credit Winner-Apple Plush) is almost a mirror image of Devious Man. He is coming in off two straight wins at Tioga and Yonkers and has four victories on the year, all in NYSS races. His lifetime mark of 1:56.2 was taken at Tioga Downs and he hasn’t missed the board all year.
Money Macintosh has won $122,829 in 2016, all of which was made in NYSS races. That puts him second in that category behind Devious Man, although he tops the list for points earned (262) in his category.
Andy Miller will also steer Money MacIntosh from Post 6 and has been made the early choice at 2-1.
Such An Angel (Credit Winner-Michelles Angel) sits third in points for the final and will no doubt use his Wednesday start as a tune up. After having won three-straight NYSS events at Vernon Downs, Saratoga Raceway and Yonkers, Such An Angel encountered some road trouble in his last two starts and finished off the board. With an inside draw and his gate speed, this is a good spot for the colt to rebound.
Trainer Paul Kelley will again have the services of Hall of Fame driver John Campbell and will see Such An Angel depart from Post 3 at 5-2.
Zacks Zoomer (Deweycheatumnhowe-Passageway) currently sits seventh in points and needs a good outing to seal the deal. Although he has only won one NYSS event this year, he has finished a solid second in his last two outings from Post 4 and looks to be rounding into form at just the right time.
Marcus Miller will steer Zacks Zoomer for trainer Erv Miller and will start from Post 1 at 3-1.
There are also three $15,000 divisions of the Excel ‘A’ series on the card that is slated to begin at 6:15 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)