The action starts early for the hometown crowd as local favourite, Its Only Roni, a Noble Ability-Theoneandonlyvroni offspring goes postward in the first division of the $33,172 New York Sire Stakes here at Buffalo Raceway Saturday night
Trained by Joe Robbins, Jr., and driven by Jack Flanigen, Its Only Roni has a win and a second in two pari-mutuel races at the Raceway. She won all four baby races she competed in this year, and her 2:00.4 clocking in her last race, signals she’s a definite contender.
Her main competition should come from the Stake Your Claim Stable’s Galimony, driven by Matt Kakaley, and trained by Linda Toscano. The Artiscape-Ideal Gal filly won last week at Goshen (1/2) in 1:59.1.
In the second division, carded as race seven, Lady Major, an Art Major-Eastern Lady offspring, takes on seven rivals for the $33,772 purse. Trained by Sam Serianni, Lady Major shows a nice second at Saratoga (1/2) in 1:58.1 coming home the last quarter-mile in :29.1 in her only pari-mutuel start. She has Post 3, and is the morning line favorite at 3-1.
Ray Schnittker’s Shes A Screamer also looks to have a good chance, drawing the rail in her second lifetime start. Shes A Screamer finished second at Goshen in 2:01.4.
The third division, Race 10, is really up for grabs as the two morning line favourites, Truly A Treasure, 3-1 from Post 8, and Barks Like A Dog, 7-2 from Post 6, must overcome these outside posts.
Ken Jacobs’ Truly a Treasure, an Art Major-Private Treasure Filly, trained by Linda Toscano, won her only lifetime start at Goshen in 2:01.2. The filly also shows two nice baby races at the Meadowlands in 1:56.2, and 1:56.3 respectively.
Ray Schnittker’s Bark Like A Dog, by Bettors Delight-Poodle Party, who finished second to Galimony, by a neck in 1:59.1 at Goshen, appears the main danger.
In the last Sire Stake race, (Race 11) undefeated Shaky Hanover leaves from Post 3 with reinsman Jimmy Marohn, Jr. at the controls for trainer Jim Perry. Owned by William J. Heinz, the Bettors Delight-Shaky Past filly has been preparing at Tioga (5/8), where her best clocking is 1:56.3.
Her main competition appears to be Doug Ackerman’s Love And Honor, an Art Major-Time Power filly that has won two baby races at Hazel Park (5/8) with a 1:59.4 clocking.
The thirteen race card stars at 6:30 p.m. eastern.
(Buffalo Raceway)