Seveallisto and Jula Florence made their marks in their New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) debuts as each captured a division of the first leg for two-year-old trotting fillies at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday, July 15.

Seveallisto ($49.90) appeared to be battling for minor awards in the stretch drive of the $76,760 first division, but she made a sudden surge to nab French Pastry by a nose in 2:00.1.

French Pastry (Andy Miller) was in control through reasonable fractions of :30, 1:00 and 1:30.2 with Seveallisto and Leon Bailey sitting third. Rounding the final turn, French Pastry looked to be cruising home for the win with a 2-1/4 length advantage over T N Tosh (Jeff Gregory) at the eighth pole and Seveallisto another length back. But French Pastry tired in deep-stretch, and Seveallisto, kicking home in :29, chased her down and reached up late for the victory. T N Tosh finished third.

Owned by Purple Haze Stables LLC and trained by Jessica Okusko, Seveallisto scored at the first time of asking. The daughter of Chapter Seven-Callisto Dream had two qualifiers at Vernon Downs, her most recent a fifth-place finish timed in 2:02. 

In the second division, worth $78,169, Jula Florence ($4.66) converted as the 6-5 favourite for driver Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller. Little By Little (Jason Bartlett) took early control and produced splits of :30 and 1:00.4 as Jula Florence sat the pocket. Jula Florence tipped out nearing three-quarters in 1:31 and brought the fight to Little By Little. She attacked from the outside while Wavy Xavie (Jeff Gregory) made her closing bid in the passing lane, sandwiching Little By Little. They both flew by the pacesetter in the stretch, and Jula Florence did the best work late to prevail by a half-length in 2:00. Wavy Xavie finished second, with Little By Little third.

Jula Florence, a daughter of Chapter Seven-Jula Shes Magic, reached the winner's circle in her second start after a place finish at Harrah's Philadelphia in her debut. The filly has now earned $43,310 for owners Andy Miller Stable Inc., Windsong Stable and Dumain Haven Farm LLC.

There was also a pair of $28,169 New York Excelsior Series races for the freshman filly trotters. Native Pride (Gregory, $6) came roaring up the passing lane and collared Solar Queen (Jordan Stratton) by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:02.1 in the first division for trainer George Ducharme. Count The Tears (Jason Bartlett) was third. In the second split, Bleecher Creature ($4.62) used a late rush to prevail by 2-1/2 lengths over Wicked Wink (Jimmy Whittemore) in 2:04.3 for trainer-driver John Stark Jr. K J Wow (Kevin Cummings) completed the top three.

Gentrify ($4.06) scored her second Fillies and Mares Open Pace win at Buffalo this season as the Ron MacDonald trainee made an uncovered push to victory in the $20,704 overnight feature. The five-year-old daughter of Always B Miki-Addy Girl swung first-over past a :28.3 opening quarter, clawed forward through the :58 and 1:26.4 middle fractions and burst to the lead in the stretch for a 1-3/4-length victory in 1:55.2. Utopia Blue Chip (Dale Spence) rallied for place over Windsun Charlotte (Dave McNeight III). 

The winner transferred to Western New York after her May 9 start at Flamboro Downs and has earned cheques in all five outings at Buffalo for owner Ed Gorc of Sudbury, Ont. Gentrify is now three-for-14 this season and nine-for-57 lifetime with $156,946 in earnings.

The final two days of the live racing season at Buffalo take place on Friday and Saturday. Those last two programs will have 12 races apiece with post time each day at 2:30 p.m.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway; photo of Seveallisto winning on July 15)