A field of eight three-year-old trotting fillies are set to do battle in a $118,800 New York Sire Stakes tilt this Friday (Aug. 23) at Batavia Downs.

Quincy Blue Chip and Winndevie have been the two best horses in the state series for the past two years, and the duo will once again face off Friday in Race 5.

Quincy Blue Chip (by Chapter Seven) is having a career year – six wins, a lifetime mark of 1:53.2 and $284,025 in earnings to date. She won the $209,500 Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs in May and three NYSS events since then. She was on a two-race win streak heading into her last start at Vernon Downs where she made an untimely break going to the quarter while trying to get the lead.

Quincy Blue Chip currently sits in second place in points (191) and earnings ($160,715) in the sire stakes series behind Winndevie, who also beat her in the NYSS two-year-old final last year.

Quincy Blue Chip has drawn Post 5 for her Friday assignment. Trainer Richard Banca has called on regular driver Jim Morrill Jr. to be back in the sulky. Quincy Blue Chip has been installed as the track handicapper’s morning line choice at 2-1.

Winndevie (Credit Winner) is the top point-getter (212) and money earner ($166,385) in her class this year, that includes three wins and without missing the board in any of her NYSS events. She heads into the race off of a lifetime-best performance at Vernon Downs where she won in 1:54. It appears as though she is currently as sharp as she’s been at any point in her career.

Winndevie has drawn Post 8 and trainer Trond Smedshammer once again assigned Jason Bartlett to drive. She has been listed at 7-2 on the morning line.

Friday’s tilt will be the last leg of the NYSS three-year-old trotting fillies, and as the points go, six of the eight horses racing at Batavia Friday have already made the final. The two horses that are on the outside and looking in are Blue Ribbon Gal (Credit Winner) who could move into the final group of eight by merely finishing fifth and gaining a minimum of five points and Avalonia (Muscles Yankee) who is already mathematically eliminated.

Post time for the first race on Friday is 6 p.m.

$35,000 Guaranteed Pick-5 Pool Friday At Batavia

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday, the track will feature a $35,000 guaranteed pool on the early Pick-5 wager that runs from Race 1 to Race 5. It is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are available for those races on the USTA website.

The actual carryover is $14,913 and the $35,000 guaranteed pool is the largest in the history of Batavia Downs.

The fifth race of the Pick-5 is the $118,800 leg of the NYSS for three-year-old trotting fillies.

(With files from Batavia Downs)