A single field of eight two-year-old trotting colts and geldings will go postward for a purse of $110,200 USD when the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) reconvenes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Aug 5. The race will feature a recent track record holder who will be on hand to try and set another in a field that will offer a lot of competition.

Bailey J (Chapter Seven-Fade Into You) made his first lifetime start in NYSS action at Monticello Raceway on July 20 and broke the track record for male freshman trotters by over a full second. He sat in the pocket behind race leader Archon (who is in this event as well) the entire mile until the stretch, where he tipped and trotted away by a length in an impressive 1:56.2 clocking. Last week, he cut the mile in the next NYSS leg at Saratoga Raceway before being caught by Gios Hope, who is the second-leading point and purse earner in this division and is not entered here this week. Trainer Noel Daley has Jason Bartlett up again behind Bailey J, who has drawn the pylon position for this start.

Uncle Rob (Mets Hall-Jesses Con) is the most accomplished freshman trotter among this group so far with three wins and $165,002 in earnings this year as he heads into Wednesday night’s action. In his most recent start in the NYSS leg at Saratoga, Uncle Rob went gate to wire in 1:57.3 with a slick :28.4 last quarter, establishing a new lifetime mark. His only major flaw to date was a break at the gate two weeks ago at Monticello that he could not recover from. Uncle Rob is trained by Julie Miller and will have Andy Miller aboard, starting from post five.

Archon (Chapter Seven-Queen Paige) has yet to win a race this year, but it’s not due to lack of effort. After winning a qualifier in 1:57.4 by 17-1/2 lengths at Vernon Downs, Archon finished third in NYSS action at Vernon Downs and then second by a length in the aforementioned outing with Bailey J at Monticello, where he was race timed in 1:56.3. Last week, he made an unfortunate break at Saratoga while making a move at three-quarters. Jordan Stratton will team Archon for trainer Dan Daley and will start from post four on Wednesday.

The NYSS main event is programmed as race six on the 13-race card. There are also two $20,000 USD Excelsior Series trots carded as races seven and eight.

There is a $985 carryover pool for the Pick 5 in the first race on Wednesday with a guaranteed pool of $3,000 as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering program. Trackmaster will provide free full past performance program pages that can be downloaded (when they become available) at handicapping.ustrotting.com. The Pick-5 at Batavia Downs is a 50-cent minimum wager that starts in race one and runs through race five. Post time for the first race is 5 p.m.

(With files from Batavia Downs; photo of Bailey J winning at Monticello Raceway)