A pair of two-year-old pacing fillies started their careers off in fine fashion on Wednesday night (June 20) by winning their respective $52,500 divisions of the New York Sire Stakes at Buffalo Raceway.
Brooklyn Lilacs began the evening with an impressive 4-1/2 length score over Apple Tina K in 1:57.1, while Meghan Lynn took the second leg with a 1-1/2 length victory over Ladybeluckytonite in 1:58.3.
Both wins by the freshmen fillies were well short of the Buffalo Raceway track record of 1:56.2, established in 2016 by Shes A Billionair.
While the Sire Stakes failed to produce a new standard, there was a new barrier established for older pacing mares, as Sportsmuffler ($3.50) toured the Buffalo Raceway oval in 1:53.4, breaking the previous record of 1:54.1 set by Sarah Cola in 2017.
Brooklyn Lilacs ($2.90) started the card by cruising to a victory for driver Jim Morrill Jr. After settling in second to the opening quarter pole, Brooklyn Lilacs took command at the half and never looked back.
"I took it easy on her in the first turn," Morrill said of Brooklyn Lilacs. "She was kind of banging the bike around that first turn. But when I popped the plugs on her, she switched into another gear and was gone." Apple Tina K (Jody Jamieson) was second and Eos N Rock (Ray Fisher) was third.
Co-owned by Gerald Stuchbury and the Sombodythatiustono Stable and trained by Gareth Dowse, Brooklyn Lilacs (Rock N Roll Heaven-Sombodythatiustono) earned a win cheque for $26,250 in her debut.
It was safety first for driver Jason Bartlett, as he guided Meghan Lynn to a $7.30 win in the second bracket.
"I played it safe with her in the beginning and let the race develop," Bartlett said.
Sitting third behind the pacesetting Ladybeluckytonite at the half, Meghan Lynn pulled to the outside and got the lead turning for home.
"I wanted to brush and clear to the lead at the five-eighths pole just like we did in her qualifier," Bartlett said of Meghan Lynn. "Once she got to the lead, I knew we weren't going to be beat."
Ladybeluckytonite (Drew Monti) took the place money with Shes Da Boom (Jamieson) taking third.
Owned by the Crawford Racing Farms and conditioned by Chris Oakes, Meghan Lynn (American Ideal-Ladyotra) also earned a big payday of $26,250 in her first career try.
In the $15,000 Excelsior Stakes, Heavens Challenge ($6.00) took her leg in 1:59.1 for Morrill, while Final Escape posted a $17.20 upset in 1:59.3 with Jamieson in the sulky.
Its Only Livie ($4.30) won the $6,700 Excelsior B event with a 2:00.1 for driver Shawn McDonough.
Sportsmuffler made her way into the record book with a 1:53.4 mile in the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Open I-II pace. Sportsmuffler used a :27.4 final panel to help establish a new barrier, beating Hey Kobe by 2-1/4 lengths.
Owned by Rose Campbell and trained by Steve Kiblin, Sportsmuffler (Sportsmaster Whatiftheresmore) is a six-year-old mare that has earned $26,053 in 2018 and $238,909 lifetime.
Racing will continue on Friday night at 5 p.m. with a 10-race card set.
For more information, including the latest news, upcoming promotions, simulcast schedule, race replays, results and entries, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.
(Buffalo Raceway)