They have to start somewhere, and it will be Wednesday night (June 20) when the two-year-old pacing fillies begin their racing careers in earnest with a date in the New York Sire Stakes at Buffalo Raceway.
The Wednesday races will be a great launching pad for the fillies’ careers, as the two divisions will each carry a purse of $52,500.
Both legs will feature five fillies. None of the gals have started in a pari-mutuel race and most have just one or two qualifiers under their belt.
The sires to these ladies are spread out evenly as well, with Art Major, Rock N Roll Heaven and American Ideal each having three entrants, while Roll With Joe has one.
The sire stakes dashed will be held as the first two races on the 11-dash program which will get underway at 5 p.m.
With inexperience reigning supreme, the morning line odds are relatively close.
In the first division, Brooklyn Lilacs (Rock N Roll Heaven-Sombodythatiustono) has been tabbed as the 2-1 early choice from Post 4 with Jim Morrill Jr. in the bike. Brooklyn Lilacs went gate to wire in her qualifier at Pocono Downs on June 13 (she won by one and a quarter lengths).
The main threat could come from Who Can You Trust (Art Major-Neverhaveneverwill). A $45,000 purchase in 2017 at the Lexington Sale, Who Can You Trust has been listed at 5-2 on the morning line with Jason Bartlett scheduled to drive. Who Can You Trust had a 1:58.4 qualifier at Delaware on June 14 and will look to take advantage of the inside.
The rest of the field includes Sewonandsewforth (to be driven by Kevin Cummings), Eos N Rock (Ray Fisher Jr.) and Apple Tina K (Jody Jamieson).
In the second leg, three of the five participants won their last prep races.
Love Americanstyle (American Ideal-Kiss Me Once Again) drew the rail and will get the services of Morrill Jr. Sitting as the 2-1 early choice, Love Americanstyle won her qualifier in 1:57.3 at Harrah's Philadelphia by two and a half lengths on June 12.
Meghan Lynn (American Ideal-Ladyotra) cruised in her qualifier with a solid 1:58.2 mile at Pocono Downs on June 13. She'll be driven by Bartlett and will score from Post 3.
Fool Me Again (Roll With Joe-Fool That I Am) made up nearly 13 lengths to win her qualifier at Woodbine Mohawk Park on June 9 in 1:59.2. She will start from Post 5 with James MacDonald at her lines.
The others involved in the second division include Ladybeluckytonite (Drew Monti) and Shes Da Boom (Jamieson).
With three track records shattered on Sunday afternoon at Buffalo Raceway in sire stakes competition, the ladies will be looking to top the current standard of 1:56.3 set in 2016 by Shes A Billionair.
There will also be a pair of $15,000 Excelsior ‘A’ series races on the card and one $6,700 Excelsior ‘B’ event.
(Buffalo Raceway)