The New York Sire Stakes calendar is now in full swing as the two-year-olds are now starting to get into the action. Buffalo Raceway will welcome the freshmen male trotters on Wednesday afternoon (June 29) in a pair of $53,000 events.
There have been three track records smashed thus far by NYSS competitors at Buffalo Raceway and a pair of long-standing marks could go by the wayside in what is expected to be ideal racing conditions. The standard for the two-year-old colt trotters is 1:58.4 established on July 13, 2016 by Money Macintosh while the gelding record is 2:01.2 set on June 30, 2013 by The Lindy Treaty.
There's not much experience among the 14 entrants in the Sire Stakes as only four have had a pari-mutuel start in their career. They'll all be scrambling for early points in the standings, hoping to land a berth in the $200,000 'Night Of Champions' at Tioga Downs on Saturday, Sept. 10.
In the first division, set for the third race, Maximum Express (Drew Monti) has had one start and that was a winner, collecting a 3-1/2 length victory in 2:01.1 on June 19 at Vernon Downs. He was successful in his qualifier as well at Vernon, rolling to a 4-3/4 length score in 2:00.1.
The Andy and Julie Miller barn always comes to Buffalo Raceway loaded with talent and At Worlds End could be one to catch. He cruised to an impressive 6-1/2 win in 1:59 at Gaitway in his lone qualifier. Andy Miller will drive At Worlds End from post five.
Others in the field include Kennebago (Trond Smedshammer), Heza Scoundrel (Jim Morrill Jr.), Unique Style (Mark MacDonald), Useyourlovetonight (Aaron Byron) and Daley Rep (Dan Daley).
The second bracket, set for the fourth race, looks like a wide open affair. The race features Sevecheetah, who is owned by The Purple Haze Stables of nearby Fairport, New York. The Smedshammer-trained and driven sidewinder had two qualifiers at The Meadowlands where he finished in second and fourth.
Crazy Ritz (Tom Mays), Hit Like Crazy (Daley) and Trump De Vie (Michael McGivern) were the only ones who tasted victories in qualifying action.
Others in the field include Wild Bill Kelso (Scott Zeron), The Good Book (MacDonald) and Jax Spratt (Monti).
The 10-race card, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., opens up with a $15,000 Excelsior A race while the $6,500 Excelsior B contest will go off in the seventh.
(Buffalo Raceway)