Tioga Downs will welcome three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for pacing colts and geldings on Sunday (June 28).
In the $38,233 first division the horse to beat is the Ray Schnittker-trained Splash Brother (Tyler Buter). The three-year-old gelding by So Surreal is two-for-two this season after being winless as a freshman. He put in an eye-popping 1:48.2 mile his last time out at the Meadowlands.
His main rivals will be Major Betts (Dexter Dunn) and Groovy Joe (Matt Kakaley). Major Betts, a son of Art Major who is trained by Mark Harder, will make his 2020 debut on Sunday. He has four wins and has earned over $130,000. Trained by Blake MacIntosh, Groovy Joe is winless in two starts as a sophomore after seven wins and 10 starts as a freshman. The three-year-old Roll With Joe colt has earned more than $230,000 in his career.
The top choice in the $38,233 second division is the John Butenschoen-trained Blank Stare (Corey Callahan). The Roll With Joe gelding has four career victories and has amassed more than $50,000 in earnings. He is one-for-one in 2020 with an easy win at Pocono Downs.
Always On The Hunt (Mark MacDonald) is unbeaten in 2020 and should be a top rival after earning a win at Tioga Downs last Sunday. The three-year-old colt by American Ideal is trained by Ray Schnittker and has two lifetime wins.
Reagan Blue Chip (Brian Sears) should also be a top contender in that contentious second division. The three-year-old gelding by American Ideal did not race as a freshman but hasn't finished worse than second (1-2-0) in 2020. He is trained by Casie Coleman Herlihy.
Freedom Warrior (Dexter Dunn) has five career wins and earnings of nearly $150,000 for trainer by Kevin Lare, and could also play a factor.
The top contenders in the $38,934 third division appears to be JK Last Chance (Wally Hennessey), Ideal Perception (Brian Sears), Cigars And Port (Mark MacDonald), American Rebel (Tyler Buter), and Save Me A Dance (Jason Bartlett). This appears to be the most competitive of the three divisions.
The 13-race card on Sunday (June 28) starts at 4:00 p.m.
(with files from Tioga)