The three-year-old filly trotters will gather for two $57,600 events in the New York Sire Stakes at Buffalo Raceway on Sunday afternoon (June 23) and there will be some interesting battles on the horizon.
The first division, set as the fifth race on the 15-race program that is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m., is absolutely loaded with the six participants combining for more than $1 million in lifetime earnings.
Besides their big bankrolls, the field includes Quincy Blue Chip, a winner of three straight including a NYSS division at Saratoga on June 9 and the $209,500 Empire Breeders Championship at Vernon Downs on May 27. She’ll have her hands full as two-year-old filly champion Winndevie also drew into the field.
Quincy Blue Chip (Chapter Seven-Sirenuse) is tabbed the 8-5 favourite with Jim Morrill Jr. in the bike for trainer Gareth Dowse. Starting from the five post, Quincy Blue Chip has already produced $168,171 in earnings in 2019 and $350,133 lifetime. She’s fresh off a 1:54 mile at Saratoga and with perfect weather conditions expected in Western New York on Sunday, the track mark is in jeopardy. The mark for three-year-old sophomore trotting fillies of 1:57 was established in 2018 by Fury Road.
Jim Morrill Jr. has been on Quincy Blue Chip in all six starts this season, producing four victories and a second.
Winndevie (Credit Winner-Vida De Vie) has finished behind Quincy Blue Chip in her last three appearances. She drew the four hole and is labeled the second choice at 7-2 with Jason Bartlett to handle the driving duties for conditioner Trond Smedshammer. Winndevie posted a Sire Stakes victory at Yonkers back on May 7 in 1:59.1. She has finished second, sixth and third behind Quincy Blue Chip in her past three opportunities. Winndevie did beat Quincy Blue Chip by three-quarters of a length in the 2018 Sire Stakes final with a 1:58 time.
The others in the division include Hanna Dreamgirl (Scott Zeron), Summertime Fever (Billy Davis Jr.), Lifetime Credit (John Stark Jr.) and Conway Kellyanne (Charlie Norris).
The second bracket isn’t as star-studded as the first but there’s still plenty of talent in the race which is slated as the seventh.
Leading the way is the 7-5 morning-line choice, Sweet Chapter (Chapter Seven-Moms Sweetie Pie), who is coming off a late-charging three-quarter length win at Saratoga in 1:55.4 on June 9. She has been in the money in all five starts this season and has collected $92,117 in earnings. Matt Kakaley will score her from the three post.
The George Ducharme entry is the next choice at 5-2 as Sensibility (Zeron) and Amanda Blue Chip (Kevin Cummings) will start from the two and four posts, respectively.
Sensibility (Muscle Mass-Twin B Sensation) has yet to win on the campaign but has been more than earning her keep with a 2019 bankroll of $75,794 and $156,656 lifetime. She comes in off a third place finish to Sweet Chapter on June 9 at Saratoga, losing by just a length.
Another one who could upset the apple cart is Stella Jane (Bartlett) who lost by three-quarters of a length to Sweet Chapter at Saratoga. Stella Jane (Crazed-Naughty Nana) has won $209,812 in her career and is going to start from the five spot at 7-2 odds.
The remainder of the field includes Blue Ribbon Gal (Morrill Jr.) and With Out A Doubt (Marcus Miller).
The will also be three $15,000 Excelsior A Series races and one $6,700 affair in the Excelsior B.
(with files from Buffalo)