Boston Rocks ($4.60) was 'rocking it' at Buffalo Raceway by trouncing his $52,500 division of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for the two-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Wednesday afternoon (July 12). He beat Vandiemen Bluechip by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:56.2 over the fast track.
Boston Rocks, who entered off a 4-3/4-length victory in the NYSS at Yonkers Raceway on June 26, did so in impressive fashion once again. After settling in third early in the race, driver Jason Bartlett gave Boston Rocks the signal to march ahead and he did so eagerly. With fractions of :28.4, :59 and 1:28.3 on the board, Boston Rocks had to deal with the pocket sitting and favoured Vandiemen Bluechip (Brett Beckwith) with a panel to go. Those worries were quickly dashed as Boston Rocks ripped off a :27.4 last quarter-mile to eliminate the hopes of Vandiemen Bluechip. Taranaki (Kevin Cummings) took the show spot.
Co-owned by Peter Blood and Rick Berks, Boston Rocks (Boston Red Rocks-Scirocco Sarah) is trained by Michael Deters. The colt has now earned $53,560 in his two lifetime appearances.
Darius had quite an adventure in his division where he came from last to first, surviving both a break and an inquiry, to post a 1-1/2-length win over Dealers Turn in 1:57.
After a bobble at the opening quarter pole, Darius (Mark MacDonald) had dropped back to sixth and last. But crossing the half-mile pole, he was first over and started gobbling up real estate approaching the final stanza. The tempo-setting Levi Sonic called it quits and that gave hope to Darius, Dealers Turn (Kevin Cummings) and Scootermagrooter (Joseph Chindano Jr.). Darius was the strongest of all in the drive to the wire and used a :28.3 last pole to seal the deal. Dealers Turn held on for second place with Scootermagrooter taking third.
It was the second victory in as many tries for the gelding Darius (Huntsville-Miss Sowo), who is owned by Seahunt Farms LLC and conditioned by Ray Schnittker. After winning a $20,000 Excelsior event in 1:58.4 at Yonkers on June 26, Darius has produced $26,250 in earnings in his brief career.
There were no surprises in the three $20,000 Excelsior Series races. Bartlett, who finished the card with three victories, won aboard Funky Bunch ($2.10, 1:57.1) and Choose Carefully ($2.60, 1:58.2). The other race was captured by Choice Is Yours as Jim Morrill Jr. guided him to a $2.40 win in 1:57.1.
Kevin Cummings completed the afternoon with a driving triple with Kyle Cummings collecting a double. Hunter Oakes and Russell Bratt had a pair of training victories.
Racing will continue on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with another 13-race program set.
(Buffalo Raceway)