Three winners from opening week New York State Sire Stakes action will attempt to overcome a range of similar obstacles and continue their winning ways when three-year-old colts and geldings trot for big purses at Buffalo Raceway Wednesday, June 10.
After earning Sire Stakes victories last week at Monticello Raceway, Judge Joe, Rookie Mistake, and South Jersey Flash all drew Post 8 for their upcoming Buffalo races, each worth $52,106 in purse money. Couple the outside draws with inside threats from horses picking up the driving services of Sire Stakes’ star-reinsman Jim Morrill, Jr., and only one of the three was tabbed the early favourite in his field.
That distinction goes to Judge Joe, who heads into third division contest (10th race) as the 4-5 choice. A perfect two for two so far in ’09, the son of Credit Winner followed an Open Trot victory at Hazel Park by displaying early speed, versatility, and grit, in taking his Monticello Sire Stakes division as the odds-on choice.
Last week at Monticello, Judge Joe trotting from the five-hole, was three-wide and going strong through the first turn, but couldn’t wrest the lead from Coal Daily. When driver Doug Ackerman tried to take back he couldn’t find a hole, and continued the outside challenge down the backstretch and into the paddock turn. A pocket hole finally opened the first time through the stretch after Mystic Splendor broke at three-eighths pole. Ackerman sat second for the third quarter, tipped wide again going to the final, and collared a fading Coal Daily near the top of the stretch. Judge Joe held off a late-charging Big Sky Domino for a comfortable one and a quarter-length victory in 2:00.1.
A win here would not only maintain perfection this year, but boost Judges Joe’s lifetime record to 10 wins in 15 starts. Posing a potential threat is Hitontheflipside (PP6). With six wins in 17 lifetime starts and a game effort from far back in finishing third to South Jersey Shore last week, Hitontheflipside is one of the horses looking to benefit from a driver switch to Morrill.
In the first division, Rookie Mistake may need all his early speed to overcome the outside disadvantage. After a disappointing rookie year as two-year-old, just one win in 12 starts, Rookie Mistake responded like a seasoned pro when paired with driver Morrill for the first time last week. The son of CR Excalibur took command at the start and went gate to wire posting a half in :59.3 and a :29.4 last quarter to win by almost four lengths in a lifetime-best of 2:00.
Besides having to handle Post 8 this week, Rookie Mistake picks up yet another new driver, the highly capable Matt Kakaley. Morrill opted off last week’s winner for the rail assignment aboard Calchips Brute, the 4-5 morning line favourite -- one of four Credit Winner colts in the race.
Morrill’s decision could have been based in part on the fate he and Calchips Brute faced in placing to South Jersey Flash at Monticello. Trainer-Driver Steven Reisenweaver and South Jersey Flash used the rail advantage in turning back an opening challenge from Calchip’s Brute in that race. Another son of Credit Winner, South Jersey Flash posted a :59.3 half, turned back an outside threat from RC Authority, and cruised a :29.1 final quarter en route to a lifetime-best 1:59.2 mile.
South Jersey Flash makes his bid at landing again in a sire stakes winner’s circle in the second division (Race 7). But unlike his Monticello rail trip, the talented Credit Winner offspring must cope with an anti-rail journey. He lands the additional task of facing Post 1 favourite in Big Sky Domino, who also picks up Morrill’s services for the first time. With only four lifetime starts, this Chris Marino-trained son of CR Excalibur seems to be coming into his own after an impressive 1:59.1 maiden win May 12 at Pocono Downs. He followed that up with the place finish to Judge Joe at Monticello, coming from 10 lengths back at the half to finish in 2:00.2.
While the post position draws and numerous driver changes raise a lot of questions that can only be answered on the track, one thing remains certain – the 24 sire stakes trotters going to post Wednesday will be racing for $156,318 in combined purses and valuable points leading up to the 2009 Night of Champions finals September 26 at Vernon Downs.
(With files from HHBNYS Communications)