Deswanslittlelorie broke the all-time Buffalo Raceway trotting record on Saturday night (July 15) with a 1:55.3 time over a track listed as "sloppy."
The six-year-old mare erased the previous mark of 1:56 set by Fox Valley Veto on July 20, 2018 and also wiped the mare trotting standard of 1:56.1 turned in on June 1, 2018 by Chelseas Chance.
Oddly enough, Deswanslittlelorie unofficially broke the Buffalo Raceway track mark with a 1:55.1 trip on June 24, but since it was in a qualifier, the time didn't register as a record.
After settling in briefly from third, Deswanslittlelorie zoomed to the top with driver-trainer Joe Chindano Jr. guiding her through fractions of :28.4, :57.3 and 1:26.2. In the lane, the only question remained was what the final time was going to be and Deswanslittlelorie trotted home smartly for the track record. She easily beat Bacardi by 10 lengths with Gracious Triumph taking third.
The win was the third of the season in 14 starts for Deswanslittlelorie (Swan For All-Devoutly Hanover), who is co-owned by Fox Valley Racing Inc. and RBH Ventures Inc. The victory increased her earnings to $24,055 on the campaign and $237,124 in her career. She paid $2.90 to win.
One Off Delight A made it two straight victories, this time in the $15,500 Open Pace with a three-quarter length victory over Villiam in 1:55.
The combination of One Off Delight A and driver Jim Morrill Jr. have proved perfect thus far. Last week, Morrill Jr. guided the nine-year-old gelding to a two-length win in 1:53.1 so the twosome got reacquainted this time around with a jump into Open company.
Stop Action, fresh off two straight victories, set the fractions off the pylons, putting up splits of :28.4, :58 and 1:26.4. But the closers started to swoop in around the final turn, putting Stop Action's lead in peril.
It didn't take long for them to overtake Stop Action. One Off Delight A floated four-wide at the top of the stretch and Morrill Jr. let him confidently pace onto the lead. Villiam never gave up but had to settle for a tough second-place finish while Gunslinger Hill rallied for the show spot.
Trained by Samuel Smith and owned by Mike Torcello, the nine-year-old gelded One Off Delight A (Bettors Delight-Tiger Su) has posted three wins in 22 outings in 2023. The victory increased his seasonal bankroll to $48,060 and lifetime earnings to $349,767. He paid $5.50 to win.
In the $15,500 Open Trot, Con Air Hall got some much-needed post relief and parlayed that into a 2-3/4-length victory over Jacked in 1:57.2.
After a pair of gate-to-wire victories, Con Air Hall received the seven and eight posts in his next two tries, not conducive positions for his front-stepping style. So getting the four-hole this week, Con Air Hall knew he had a shot at the lead.
When the wings of the starting gate opened, Con Air Hall and Johnny Boy were involved in an early speed duel. But approaching the opening quarter, Johnny Boy relented and allowed Con Air Hall to take command.
With splits of :29.1, :58.4 and 1:27.4 on the board, Con Air Hall turned for home with a six-length lead and strolled off to the dialed down decision. In the battle for the minor awards, Jacked took that battle while Lougazi, last week's Open winner, was third.
The win was the sixth in 21 attempts on the season for the 10-year-old gelded Con Air Hall (Groton Hall-Charms Chip), who is owned by Ronald Viele and trained by Jennifer Giuliani. The victory moved his seasonal earnings to $46,169 and lifetime earnings $352,379. Jim Morrill Jr. drove the $5.80 winner.
Racing will resume on Wednesday afternoon (July 19) at 2:30 p.m. with a 13-race card scheduled. The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) returns for the final time this year. It's a unique "doubleheader" as there will be a pair of NYSS events for the three-year-old colt and gelding trotters along with two NYSS races for the three-year-old filly trotters. On top of that, there's four $20,000 Excelsior Series battles with all of the stakes racing coming in the first eight on the program.
Buffalo Raceway closes out the 2023 campaign on Saturday, July 22.
(Buffalo Raceway)