Driver Jason Bartlett made the shuffle off to Buffalo Raceway well worth it on Wednesday, July 8 as he scored seven victories, two of which came in New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) divisions for two-year-old pacers.

Bartlett opened the card with an NYSS win behind Cowboy Candy ($3.08) in the $73,571 first division for female pacers. The So Surreal-Caviart Elena filly wired the short field of four in a new mark of 1:56.

After grabbing the advantage in the early going, Cowboy Candy stomped out fractions of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:28.1 as Too Pink To Pass (Lauren Tritton) sat in the pocket. Sinful Cindy Too (Cory Stratton) made a first-over move to three-quarters in 1:28.1, but that effort quickly stalled out. Cowboy Candy then held back Too Pink To Pass (Lauren Tritton) by a length, while Hurrikane Schmazy (Mark MacDonald) took third.

Cowboy Candy, who also won in the first NYSS leg, is now two-for-three lifetime for owner Chain Lightning Stables LLC and trainer Aaron Lambert. The victory jumped her earnings to $97,167.

Bartlett then combined with Lambert again to complete the trainer's stakes double in the $77,857 second split for pacing colts and geldings. Maries Jet ($6.04) was stubborn on the front end and refused to give in to two challengers down the lane, posting a half-length victory.

Maries Jet took off from post three to grab the early advantage, then posted splits of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:27.3. Beatle Blue Chip (Drew Monti) was first-over around the final turn with Clear Deal (Leon Bailey) sitting in the pocket. Both were in range of Maries Jet in the stretch, but neither could catch the leader as he rolled home a 1:56.2 winner.

Maries Jet has now won both of his starts following a debut win in an overnight at Harrah's Philadelphia on June 26. The son of Roll With Joe-R Marie Hanover has earned $47,380 for owners Vincent Ferriero Jr. and Carlye Yanstick.

Bartlett also won five $28,571 two-year-old pacing divisions of the New York Excelsior Series, starting with Babylon Blue Chip ($2.40), who took the first split for males by two lengths in 1:57.1. Bellissimabluechip ($3.94) dominated the second filly flight by 13 lengths in 1:57.3 for Bartlett, giving the driver his third win of the day. His next Excelsior win came via Spider Claire ($5.18), who was fastest of the ladies in the Excelsior as she posted a 1-1/4-length victory in 1:57. Twin B Wildfire ($2.46) toyed with the field in the second event for the males as he trounced them by 9-1/4 lengths in 1:57.1 for Bartlett. The reinsman completed his septet with Maxina ($4.58) in the final filly contest, winning by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:57.2.

Bartlett, the reigning Dan Patch Driver of the Year, leads North America this year in wins, with 327, earnings, with $6.08 million USD, and UDRS among drivers with 500 or more starts, with .430. 

In the $77,857 first NYSS split for males, Bastonata Bluechip ($5.76) spotted the field about five lengths early, but he recovered to notch a half-length score over Wardensville in 1:55.4. The clocking was the fastest time among the four NYSS winners.

Wardensville (Tyler Buter) took control approaching the opening station in :28.1 and put up fractions of :57.1 and 1:26.4. Bastonata Bluechip, driven by Matt Kakaley, had scrambled back into the race and moved first-over in the third panel from fourth, then grinded past Wardensville to victory. Global Choice (Bartlett) was third.

Bastonata Bluechip, a son of American Courage-Ascending, won his debut for trainer Travis Alexander and owners Joe P Racing LLC, Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC and Alexander Racing Stable LLC.

In the $75,000 second NYSS division for the gals, Phast Phyllis ($6.46) went coast-to-coast, beating the heavily favoured Fendilicious by three lengths in 1:56.2. 

Phast Phyllis (Braxten Boyd) registered fractions of :28.4, :58.1 and 1:27.4 with Fendilicious (Bartlett) drafting along in the pocket. The leader kept her nose to the grindstone down the stretch, pulling away from Fendilicious to complete the victory. Country Money (Cory Stratton) picked up the show cheque.

Paul Kautz and trainer Cameron Capone co-own Phast Phyllis, a daughter of Huntsville-Robin J. She is now one-for-one.

The only Excelsior Series dash not won by Bartlett was the first for fillies, which went to Memums Spitfire ($37.06) and driver Wade Tomaszewski. She flew home from fourth to win by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:57.4.

Racing will return at Buffalo on Friday with a 13-race program set for 2:30 p.m.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway; photo of Cowboy Candy winning on July 8)