The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS), and accompanying Excelsior Series, will make its first appearance of the 2026 season at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday afternoon, June 3.
The three-year-old colt and gelding pacers, the 'Glamour Boy' division, will battle for a $121,800 USD bounty in the sixth race on the 15-race program that gets underway at 2:30 p.m. It's the first of seven consecutive Wednesday afternoons that will feature NYSS and Excelsior Series action.
The eight-horse field is highlighted by Fragment, who is last year's two-year-old New York Sire Stakes champion. A winner of $871,781 through the beginning of his three-year-old campaign, Fragment won the NYSS final in 2025 at Batavia Downs on Sept. 6 in a track record time of 1:52.1 as he rode the pocket then blitzed past the front-stepping Knoxville and registered the 6-3/4-length score.
The Huntsville-The Show Returns colt is set to start from the seven post for driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Per Engblom. He had an adventurous journey at Saratoga Raceway in his seasonal debut in NYSS action on May 24. Both headpoles came loose before the start of the race but driver Colin Kelly was able to right the ship with Fragment and was able to coast to a 3-1/4-length victory over Fearless Partners in a snappy 1:51.4 time over a sloppy track.
Ironically, Fragment won his NYSS event at Buffalo Raceway in 2025 from the seven-hole. He is the 9-5 morning line favourite in his return to the Hamburg, New York oval.
Unmatched Wisdom (American Ideal-Above Average) drew post two and enters with a perfect six-for-six seasonal record, including a half-length victory over Mighty Matt in a NYSS at Saratoga. He went a lifetime best of 1:52.1 in the slop for trainer Chuck Connor Jr. Unmatched Wisdom will retain the services of driver Leon Bailey.
Another one to keep an eye on is Knoxville (Huntsville-Lets Fall In Love), who finished third in last year's NYSS final. He finished third, a length behind Unmatched Wisdom, at Saratoga in his last appearance. Knoxville got post four for driver Tyler Buter and trainer Ray Schnittker.
Mighty Matt (Huntsville-Valentina De Vie) has been in the money 10 out of 12 lifetime starts, including a half-length runner-up finish to Unmatched Wisdom in his NYSS debut just over a week ago, but is saddled with the outside eight post. Driver Braxten Boyd will try to overcome the draw for conditioner Cameron Capone.
The rest of the field includes Hunthehunter (Mark Herschberger), Rock City Smitty (Ridge Warren), Twin B Manhunt (Kevin Cummings) and Fearless Partners (Drew Monti).
There will be a trio of $20,000 USD Excelsior Series paces for the young colts and geldings which will go off as the first, seventh and eighth races.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway; photo of Fragment winning on May 24 at Saratoga Raceway)