New York’s richest day of harness racing takes place Saturday, Sept. 10 at Tioga Downs for the New York Sire Stakes “Day of Champions.” Eight finals races featuring the best state-bred two- and three-year-olds will be contested for $200,000 purses each.

“We have seen some outstanding performances leading up to this much anticipated day of racing,” said Steve Jones, trustee, New York Breeding Development Fund. “We congratulate all owners, trainers and drivers who have made it this far in the program.”

All racing fans are welcome to attend and watch the highly competitive day of harness racing. Post time is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tioga Downs is located at 2348 West River Road in Nichols, New York. A second card of overnights plus three Wiener Dog races will kick off at 6:15 p.m.

The New York Sire Stakes Day of Champions post position draw was livestreamed via Facebook on Wednesday, Sept. 7 and can be viewed on the Tioga Downs page.

The first final of the day will be for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The unbeaten Crown (Brian Sears) should be the one to beat as the 2-1 morning line favourite.  The colt by Chapter Seven-Amour Heiress is trained by Marcus Melander.  He is four-for-four in his young career with NYSS wins at Yonkers, Tioga, Vernon and Saratoga. His main rival looks to be the Mark Harder-trained The Gruffalo (Dexter Dunn).  The colt by Chapter Seven-Clementine Dream has three wins in six career starts including NYSS wins at Yonkers, Vernon and Saratoga.  She finished second to Crown at Tioga.

Kayleigh S (Brian Sears) is the 2-1 morning line choice in the two-year-old filly trot final.  Marcus Melander trains the filly by Chapter Seven-Pasithea Face S.  She has NYSS wins at Saratoga, Batavia and Yonkers in her five career starts. The Robert Krivelin-trained Woolco (Tyler Buter) is the 3-1 second choice.  The filly by Chapter Seven-Upside Hanover is two-for-five in her young career.  She has NYSS wins at Yonkers and Monticello.

The Richard 'Nifty' Norman-trained Duval Street (Brian Sears) looks to be the one to beat in the two-year-old final for pacing colts and geldings.  The Huntsville-Native Bride gelding has NYSS wins at Yonkers and Vernon. Three-time winner Blue Hunt (Wally Hennessey) is the 3-1 second choice.  The Huntsville-All On Top Hanover gelding is trained by Erica Chartrand.  She has NYSS wins at Tioga, Vernon and Saratoga.

Vivians Dream (Jordan Stratton) is the 2-1 morning line favourite in the two-year-old filly pace final in what looks to be a great three-way battle for the top prize.  Cory Mumford trains the filly by American Ideal-Sports Chic.  Among her six victories is an exciting win in a NYSS leg at Vernon Downs.  She popped the pocket and wore down Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe-Fresh Breeze) in the stretch to win in a track record time of 1:50.4.  She has won more than $200,000 in purses this year. Revenged-minded Twin B Joe Fresh (Dexter Dunn) is the 3-1 second choice.  Chris Ryder trains the filly, who just fell short of Warrawee Ubeaut’s world record (1:48.3) by getting a Kentucky Championship Series win at the Red Mile in 1:48.4.  She has four wins and two seconds in six lifetime starts.  Do not count out the Brett Pelling-trained Earthwindfire (American Ideal-Road Bet) with Tim Tetrick.  She handed Vivians Dream her only loss by winning a NYSS leg at Yonkers.

Hambletonian winner Cool Papa Bell (Tim Tetrick) leads a field of nine in the three-year-old trotting trotting final for colts and geldings.  The Chapter Seven-Blk Thai Optional gelding is trained by Jim Campbell.  He has four wins this season and seven victories in his career.  He has won nearly $800,000 in his career and would love to add the NYSS title to his resume.  Stanley Dancer Memorial winner Slay (Joe Bongiorno) looks to be his top contender.  The colt by Chapter Seven is trained by Tony Alagna.  He has four wins this season and six career victories with more than $375,000 in purse earnings.

The phenomenal Joviality S (Brian Sears) will be the overwhelming favourite in the three-year-old filly trot final.  Marcus Melander trains the Chapter Seven-Pasithea Face S filly, who was second in the Hambletonian and is unbeaten in NYSS action. She has eight wins in 10 starts this season.  The fabulous filly has 17 career victories and has amassed nearly $1.7 million in purses lifetime.  Valentina Blu (Joe Bongioro) has proven to be a formidable opponent to Joviality S.  Trained by Tony Alagna, she led Joviality S as they reached the stretch just last week during a NYSS leg at Tioga.  Joviality S wore her down in deep stretch but nonetheless the filly by Chapter Seven-Corazon Blue Chip showed she is a contender.  She has three wins this season and four career victories with earnings topping the $500,000 mark.

The Travis Alexander-trained Pleaseletmeknow (Matt Kakaley) is the 2-1 morning line favourite in the final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.  The American Ideal-I Said Please gelding has seven wins this season including the $300,000 MGM Messenger Stakes at Yonkers.  He has 10 career victories including a lifetime best time of 1:50.3 during a NYSS leg at Tioga on Aug. 21.  Seven Hundred (Jim Morrill Jr.) is the 3-1 second choice.  Jake Leamon trains the colt by Huntsville-Exclamation.  He has four wins this season including NYSS wins at Vernon, Batavia and Tioga.

Gotthegreenlight (Jason Bartlett) looks to be the one to beat in the three-year-old filly pace final.  The filly by American Ideal-Bet On Luck is trained by Nifty Norman.  She has six wins this season including NYSS wins at Batavia, Buffalo, Vernon, Tioga and Yonkers (track record time of 1:51.3).  She has won more than $470,000 in her career.  Empire Breeders Classic winner Valar Dohaeris (Mark MacDonald) looks to be her toughest opponent.  Ake Svanstedt trains the Huntsville-Bon Mot filly, who has four wins, two seconds and two thirds from eight starts this season.

NYSS Cocktail Party Planned For Horsepeople Friday Night

To celebrate the accomplishments of the horsepeople who earned a spot in the NYSS finals, Tioga Downs is pleased to offer a complimentary cocktail party on Friday, Sept. 9.

Horsepeople arriving for NYSS finals are invited to the P.J. Clarke's patio starting at 5 p.m. to enjoy a menu ranging from pulled pork sliders to sushi, shrimp cocktail, spanakopita, desserts and more. Food will be served from 5-8 p.m. A cash bar will also be available until 10 p.m. Horsepeople must present a valid New York State racing license for admittance to the party.

Besides enjoying the overnight racing while taking in the scenic mountain views of Tioga Downs, guests will also be able to watch The Meadowlands card and wager right from the patio.

“Getting a horse to the New York Sire Stakes finals is an incredible achievement,” said Jason Settlemoir, Tioga Downs' vice president of racing. “This event celebrates the horsemen and their accomplishments before the Day of Champions kicks off on Saturday.”

(With files from Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund & Tioga Downs)