Bourbon Express and Saylor won in the $51,000 divisions of New York Sire Stakes for the two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Wednesday night, July 17 at Buffalo Raceway.
Scoring from the four post, Bourbon Express shot right off the gate and posted splits of :30.2, 1:01.1 and 1:31.1. Heading for home, Barn Holden was in position to challenge Bourbon Express but failed to get any closer than one-and-a-half lengths at the wire. Hobbs took third.
"He handled the track like an old trotter," winning driver Jason Bartlett said. "I stepped on the gas with him off the gate then again in the stretch. If someone tried to stay with Bourbon Express, they probably would have tipped over."
Co-owned by Salvatore Vullo, James DeArmond and trainer Jessica Okusko, it was the second win in three tries for Bourbon Express (RC Royalty-Kasha). The victory upped his seasonal earnings to $45,600. He paid $4.70 to win.
A break behind the starting gate by the heavily-favoured Berkery J and Sing Me A Lalabye completely changed the complexion of the second bracket and Saylor took advantage of it.
Following the pace-setting Book Seven, Saylor popped the pocket at the top of the lane and strolled to an easy victory. Redneckerthenyou took second while Book Seven, who broke in the stretch, regrouped in time to take third.
"It happens to two-year-olds," winning driver Doug Ackerman said of the two breaking horses at the starting gate. "Saylor was keen to go tonight and wanted to race. He did everything that was asked of him and responded each time."
Trained and owned by Ackerman, Saylor (Chapter Seven-Creme De Cocoa) broke his maiden with the victory and moved his seasonal bankroll to $31,548. He paid $31.40 to win.
In the $15,000 Excelsior A Series, Maximus Da Savage toured the Hamburg oval in 2:01.2, paying $4.50 to win, while Bropain pulled a mild $12.80 upset in 2:02.4 with Mickey McGivern driving..
Crazy For CJ took the $6,800 Excelsior B division for Claude Huckabone III as he raced to a popular $3.50 win in 2:03.1.
Bartlett completed the evening with a triple.
The final weekend of action on the 2019 season at Buffalo Raceway begins on Friday night, July 19 at 5 p.m. with a 10-race program slated. The finale will be on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. with a 12-race card set.
(with files from Buffalo Raceway)