Buffalo’s Wednesday NYSS Preview

There will be another bull's eye on one of Buffalo Raceway’s track record on Wednesday night when the New York Sire Stakes for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters will take dead aim at the 2:01.2 mark set by Timothy Patrick (2012) and The Lindy Treaty (2013).

With this classification's time either broke or tied the past two seasons, a new mark could easily be established. There have been a total of five standards either tied or broken at Buffalo Raceway this season. A total of 30 talented freshmen trotters have been entered to contest the four $27,250 divisions. For most, this will be their first 'real' start.

Lucky Chucky has sired eight of the entrants, followed by Conway Hall (seven), RC Royalty (six), Crazed (five), Credit Winner (three) and Cash Hall (one).

The first division will go off as the second race. Royal Conway (RC Royalty-Miss Conway) will score from Post 2 and is the 5-2 morning line favourite with Gates Brunet in the sulky. Royal Conway registered a 1:58.2 qualifying win at Vernon Downs on June 27.

The main threat could come from Lucky Ten K (Lucky Chucky-Promising Deal) who gets the services of Chris Lems out of the six spot. Lucky Ten K has a 2:00 and a 2:00.3 qualifier under his belt at Vernon and is the 3-1 second choice.

In the second division, set as the third race, Azucar (Crazed-Lindy Loves Candy) has a pari-mutuel win already after scoring a two-length victory at Vernon Downs in 1:58.1. He'll start from the six post for Brunet and open at 3-1 odds.

The morning line favourite, however, is Wings Of Royalty (RC Royalty-Sparkling Cider) at 5-2. He gets the seven post for Lems. Wings Of Royalty opened with a 2:02.2 qualifier then sprung a 1:59.1 time over the Vernon Downs surface.

It could be a battle from the inside posts in the third leg, scheduled as the fifth race. Drinksforthehouse (Conway Hall-Pacific Photo) gets the garden spot and Lems. He enters as the 5-2 morning line choice thanks to a 1:58.4 qualifier at Vernon Downs.

He'll be challenged from the inside by Four Buck Chuck (Lucky Chucky-Bama Hall) who has Doug McNair in the bike. Four Buck Chuck has a 2:03.4 clocking in a qualifier over Mohawk Racetrack. He's listed at 3-1.

Habitat (Conway Hall-Habits Best) has been sensational over the Gaitway Farm's mile track, producing times of 1:58.1 and 1:59.4, winning his two qualifiers by a combined 33 lengths. He'll have Jim Morrill Jr. at the controls and is the 5-2 morning line selection.

Mambo Blue Chip (Lucky Chucky-Flirty Two) arrives from the Meadowlands with miles of 2:01 and 2:03. He'll begin out of the four post at 3-1 for Jeff Gregory.

While Morrill Jr. is listed on just one favourite in the four NYSS races, be very aware of him. He's been in 40 races thus far in the NYSS with 15 victories. He's been in the money another 14 times and has earned $463,493, far and away the best among all drivers.

Looking at his Excelsior Series statistics, Morrill has been in 64 races and has won 18 of them and has been in the money 27 other times.

There will be a non-betting $6,300 Excelsior Series ‘B’ races at 4:40 p.m., while a pair of $12,500 Excelsior Series ‘A’ races will be sprinkled in the regular 12-race card that gets underway at 5 p.m.

(Buffalo Raceway)

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