Things just kept getting better and better for trainer/driver Åke Svanstedt on Sunday (June 17) at Buffalo Raceway, as he ended up recording three wins during New York Sire Stakes action that had three-year-old trotting fillies in the spotlight.
Each of the four divisions contested a purse of approximately $30,000.
It was a perfect progression as well for Svanstedt, as each time one of his charges won, they set a new track in doing so.
In the opener, Ciao Dolce broke the old track standard for three-year-old trotting fillies of 1:58.2 held by Fad Finance, Straight A Student and High Rise with a three-quarter length decision over Sevenbuyeleven in 1:57.3.
That barrier last about 15 minutes, as defending two-year-old New York Sire Stakes champion Lucky Ava posted a 1-1/4 length victory over Girl Talk in 1:57.2.
After having to settle for a second-place finish in the next NYSS event with Natalie Hanover, Svanstedt saved the best for last as Fury Road took her leg with a 1:57 tour around the lightning-fast Buffalo Raceway half-mile oval, topping White Cheetah by three-quarters of a length.
When ask about his success at Buffalo Raceway, Svanstedt, who has won six of 10 races locally in the past two seasons said, "It helps when you have good horses." He went on to explain, "I seem to have horses that can take the turns here, so I am not afraid to go hard into them."
Ciao Dolce ($3.80) took the opening bracket with a big move heading to the three-quarter marker. She was able to wear down the fraction-setting Sevenbuyeleven (Scott Zeron) in the stretch to score the win. Firm To Stay (Jim Morrill Jr.) was third.
"She really picked it up down the backstretch," Svanstedt said of Ciao Dolce's effort.
Owned by Kjelle Magne, it was the second win in five starts in 2018 for Ciao Dolce (Credit Winner-Pizza Dolce).
The ink hadn't even dried in the record book when Lucky Ava put her name into it.
Setting fractions of :30, 1:00 and 1:29.1, Lucky Ava ($2.10) had to work extremely hard to hold back a determined Girl Talk (Drew Monti) in the lane. Haulin Banc (Zeron) took the show spot.
"It was a little surprised at how she had go in the end but she's a good horse," Svanstedt said of Lucky Ava.
Co-owned by Svanstedt, Little E LLC and the Van Camp Trotting Corp., it was the fourth victory in five attempts this year for Lucky Ava (Lucky Chucky-Ava Marion). The score pushed her seasonal bankroll to $65,693 and $269,189 in her brief but stellar career.
Fury Road ($6.80) was the fastest of the distaff sophomore trotters, as she was able to wire her field in 1:57. White Cheetah (Morrill Jr.) put in a game effort to place second, while Tribute To Seven (Zeron) took the show position.
"She did what she had to do," Svanstedt said of Fury Road's record breaking performance.
Owned by Knutsson Trotting Inc., the victory was the second in five appearances in 2018 for Fury Road (Muscle Mass-Bar Ballad). The win upped her seasonal earnings to $44,932 this season and $189,423 in her career.
When told that was the third track record he had on the afternoon with his trainees and Fury Road, Svanstedt shrugged his shoulders and said, "Wow."
The only race in the New York Sire Stakes not won by Svanstedt was earned by Lima Novelty (Zeron) in 1:57.3.
It was a heads-up move by Zeron going to the opening marker that paved the way for Lima Novelty's triumph. When things settled down after the start, Natalie Hanover (Svanstedt) looked like she was going to control the fractions, but that wasn't the case a few seconds later.
"We didn't want to be behind Natalie Hanover (Svanstedt). We wanted the top," said Zeron of playing the give-and-go with Lima Novelty ($4.00). The decision worked out great, as Lima Novelty held back a challenge of Natalie Hanover by 1-1/4 lengths while Jackie Newlands (Morrill) was third.
Trained by Linda Toscano and owned by Ken Jacobs, Lima Novelty (Chapter Seven-No Pictures Please) found the winner's circle for the first time in four attempts this season. The victory upped her seasonal earnings to $21,847 and $116,635 lifetime.
In the $15,000 Excelsior A races, A Gift For You ($4.10) was the quickest with a 1:58 clocking for Zeron. Michando ($7.50) took her bracket for Marcus Miller in 1:58.3 while Kevin Cummings guided Eunice to a stunning $62.00 victory in 1:58.2.
The two $6,500 Excelsior B events went to Financial Impact, steered home Monti in 2:02.2, while Shawn McDonough notched a popular $2.50 victory with Chasing Stardom in 2:02.
Racing will resume on Wednesday night (June 20) at Buffalo Raceway with an 11-race program scheduled for 5 p.m. with two-year-old pacing fillies arriving to battle it out in two New York Sire Stakes divisions worth $52,500 each.
For more information, including the latest news, upcoming promotions, simulcast schedule, race replays, results and entries, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.
(Buffalo Raceway)