Last week, it was seven three-year-old colts and geldings that went for a big purse in the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) at Buffalo Raceway. Now it's the ladies' turn as just a field of four sophomore filly pacers will go to the post with a huge jackpot of $113,400 USD on the line in the seventh race on Wednesday afternoon, June 11.
There are two damsels who have tasted Sire Stakes action thus far in their careers.
Chanceoflightning (Courtly Choice-Admirals Chance) arrives on a three-race winning streak. After two victories at Saratoga Raceway, Chanceoflightning romped in the Excelsior Series at Tioga Downs, notching a 6-3/4-length win in 1:54.1. She finished fourth in the NYSS championship race in 2024 and earned just over $115,000 last year without a victory. Chanceoflightning, conditioned by Cory Stratton, gets the rail and is the even-money morning line favourite with Jim Morrill Jr. listed to drive.
Send It Down Slim finished a solid second on June 1 in the NYSS at Tioga, losing to Shes A Streaker by 1-1/2 lengths. Trained by Ray Schnittker, Send It Down Slim (Huntsville-Rocksinsangria) earned just over $230,000 last year and finished third in the NYSS finale, losing to champion The Last Martini. She has finished in the money seven of eight times in her career and will start from the three post for driver Mark MacDonald.
There are two lightly raced gals that will round out the field. Hurrikane Marigold (Huntsville-Lets Groove Tonight) has just four lifetime starts. She finished fifth in the NYSS at Tioga. John McDermott trains her and will have the services of driver Drew Monti, who will score her from the two spot.
Tennis Queen (Roll With Joe-Serena Said) has just six career starts, two of which have come this season. She scored an impressive five-length win on June 1 in the Excelsior Series, going the mile in 1:55.1 in breaking her maiden. Cameron Capone trains Tennis Queen and will have Braxten Boyd at the controls from the four-hole.
There will also be three $20,000 USD Excelsior Series events for the three-year-old filly pacers that will be sprinkled in the 14-race program that is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)