The Canadian-campaigned two-year-old pacing colt Windsong Napoleon opened Wednesday night's New York Sire Stakes action at Buffalo Raceway.
Driver Jody Jamieson took Windsong Napoleon straight to the lead in the first $36,566 division and never looked back in registering an easy six and a quarter length triumph over Twin B Cowboy (Jim Morrill Jr.) in 1:57.2.
Whats Goin On (Mark MacDonald) probably had the fans asking that exact question as he shocked the field in his division. In covering the mile in 1:56.4, the fastest of the three divisions, he paid a handsome $37.60 to his faithful backers.
In the other Sire Stakes division, the heavily favoured Miso Fast (Matt Kakaley) avoided disaster down the backstretch and was able to track down the pace-setting Americanfirewater (Jamieson) in 1:57.3.
The winners were short of the track records of Hes Watching (1:55.4) set for the colts in 2013 and Roadside Delight (1:56.3) established in 2010 for the geldings.
In the first leg, Windsong Napoleon was able to set fractions of :29.4, :59.3 and 1:29.1 and used a final panel of :28.1 in going gate-to-wire and disposing of Twin B Cowboy and third-place finisher Americas Fleet (Mark MacDonald).
Owned by trainer Carl Jamieson, Thomas Kyron and Douglas Good, Windsong Napoleon (Art Major-Bunny Dearest) now has two victories in four career tries, earning $26,879.
In the most shocking result of the night, Whats Goin On led from the start and put up respectable splits of :29.4, :59.4 and 1:29.1. The Mark Harder trainee had plenty left in the tank for the last quarter-mile as he paced home in :27.3 to hold off any late threats. This Is My Song (Jamieson) finished in second while Offdahook Bluechip (Kakaley) finished in third.
Owned by Rick Phillips, the VIP Internet Stable, Deanna Frost and Mark Harder, Whats Goin On (Roll With Joe-Shipps Xclamation) earned his first victory.
In the other bracket, Miso Fast ($2.30) was fortunate to avoid trouble heading to the three-quarter pole and used a :27.4 last split to collar Americanfirewater in 1:57.3. Willie Joe Hall (Pat Lachance) took the show position.
Going first over down the backstretch, Miso Fast and a heads up Kakaley were able to swing wide and avoid the pocket-sitting Outkast Blue Chip, who broke stride and scattered the field. In the home stretch, Americanfirewater could feel the pressure being applied by Miso Fast in the lane and could do nothing, but helplessly watch.
Miso Fast (Roll With Joe-Sakura Hanover) is trained by Ron Burke and is owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stable and the J&T Silva Stable. The win was the second straight in Sire Stakes for the winner of $39,896 in just two lifetime appearances.
Morrill Jr. took a pair of $15,000 Excelsior A Series events. He guided Funknwaffles ($2.50) to a 1:57.4 victory and Serious Major ($2.70) to a 1:59.1 decision. In the other leg, Percys Z Tam ($4.60) found the winner's circle with a 2:00 score with Lachance in the bike.
Sargeant Reckless was a popular $4.20 winner in the $6,500 Excelsior B Series as Morrill Jr. steered him to a 2:01 victory. Watch Me Fly ($5.00) took the other division in 2:01.3 with Kevin Cummings aboard.
There were two divisions of the Claiming Championship Series contested with Fresh Squeezed ($4.50) posting a 1:56.1 victory for Kakaley in the $14,800 finale for filly and mare pacers ($8,000-$12,500). In the $10,000 championship event for the distaff pacers ($4,000-$7,000), Mystical Danica ($3.20) cruised to a 1:57.2 victory under the guidance of Cummings.
Princess Katie (Ray Fisher Jr.) toured the Buffalo Raceway half-mile oval in 1:55.2 to capture the $9,500 Open Pace for the filly and mares. She returned $4.20 for the victory.
The final week of racing will continue on Friday night at Buffalo Raceway with 10 races going to the post at 5 p.m.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)