Buffalo Raceway will begin the final week of its 2019 meet on Wednesday night (July 17) and the two-year-old New York Sire Stakes trotting colts and geldings will be in the spotlight.

The youngsters are set to clash in a pair of $51,000 divisions. The splits have been carded as Race 5 and 7 and will each feature five-horse fields. Post time for the card will be at 5 p.m.

There will be a local flair to the first division, as Barn Holden has been tabbed the 2-1 choice from the two post for driver Kevin Cummings.

Barn Holden (Conway Hall-Barn Babe) is co-owned by the western New York connections of trainer Steve and Nancy Pratt, the Purple Haze Stable and the Out In The Country Stable. Barn Holden will arrive fresh off of a gate-to-wire, three and one-quarter-length victory in NYSS competition at Yonkers Raceway. He covered the mile in 1:59.

The main threat should come from Sky Castles (Conway Hall-Sand Piper), who has drawn the inside with Charlie Norris in the sulky. Sky Castles already has a win in the NYSS, as he rolled to a one and a quarter-length score in 1:57.4 at Tioga Downs on June 30. In his last appearance at Yonkers, he finished third behind Barn Holden.

The opening bracket will also include Hobbs (Jim Morrill Jr.), Bourbon Express (Jason Bartlett) and Clear Sailing (Dan Daley).

In the second division, Berkery J looms as the one to beat. He is heading in off of a seven and a half-length victory in 1:58.2, which was recorded in the NYSS at Yonkers on July 8. Berkery J has drawn the rail for Bartlett. Berkery J (Chapter Seven-Southwind Caitlin) recorded a solid second-place finish at Tioga Downs in his only other career start. He is the even money choice on the morning line.

Saylor drew the two hole for Doug Ackerman and appears to be the main competition to Berkery J. He set the pace in his last outing at Yonkers in NYSS, but faded late and took second place, as he lost by two lengths.

The second division will also feature Book Seven (Andy Miller), Sing Me A Lalabye (Norris) and Redneckerthenyou (Daley).

The track record for the freshman trotting colts is 1:58.4, which was established in 2016 by Money MacIntosh. The gelding standard is 2:01.2, which was set in 2013 by The Lindy Treaty.

The card will also feature a pair of $15,000 Excelsior ‘A’ Series races and a $6,800 Excelsior ‘B’ Series dash.

After Wednesday night, Buffalo Raceway will have just two programs left on its current meet: 5 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information and all things Buffalo Raceway, head to buffaloraceway.com.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)