Wednesday, July 15 at Buffalo Raceway will be 'Ladies Night,' as the New York Sire Stakes as four $27,500 divisions for two-year-old trotting fillies will be in the spotlight.
Buffalo’s 13-race card will get underway at 5 p.m. It contains 12 events that will feature the fillies and mares, including Excelsior 'A' and 'B' competition, along with overnight races for the distaffers.
With 11 track records already in the books in 2015 at Buffalo Raceway, the ladies will be gunning for another on the Hamburg half-mile oval mark. The time for which they'll be shooting for is 2:00.2, which was established in 2009 by Munis Bluechip.
Of the four NYSS divisions, the most intriguing is the third leg, which has been carded as the sixth race. All of the entrants, except two, were at least $25,000 yearling purchases at either the Lexington, Morrisville or Harrisburg sales. The lone exceptions are Winning Princess and LTS Sandie, and, ironically, both are the two top morning line choices.
The field is headed by the 8-5 morning line favourite Winning Princess, who has been turning heads thus far in her brief career.
The Ron Burke-trained Winning Princess (Credit Winner-Cabaret Hanover) is currently 2-for-2 with a five and three-quarter-length win in NYSS competition at Monticello Raceway in her last appearance (July 3). She was clocked in 2:00.3 during the dash.
Winning Princess opened her career with an impressive four-length, 2:00.2 victory at Vernon Downs in a conditioned trot on June 18. That was after she put a 27-length hurt on the field in a qualifier there on June 5 (which was won in 2:01). Winning Princess will be driven by leading NYSS driver Jim Morrill Jr.
LTS Sandie (Conway Hall-Rejoycing) has drawn Post 2 and is the 7-2 morning-line choice for John Stark Jr. She was a game third while losing a July 3 NYSS event at Monticello Raceway.
Lima Playtime (Credit Winner-Pacific Legacy) had an impressive non-betting prep at Mohawk Racetrack on July 7. She won the dash by four lengths in 2:00. A $77,000 yearling purchase in Lexington, Lima Playtime has drawn Post 1 and will be driven by Rick Zeron.
In the first NYSS race, the opener on the card, Go Mary Go has been installed as the 3-1 early choice for Ray Schnittker. Go Mary Go (RC Royalty-Michelles Way) went gate-to-wire while winning a NYSS event at Monticello in 2:02.1. She was a $45,000 yearling purchase last year in Harrisburg.
The main threat should come from Posterity, a winner already in the NYSS for Charlie Norris. Some late kick down the lane sent Posterity to a one-length win at Monticello on July 3 in 2:01.2, so she'll be loving the long Buffalo Raceway stretch.
As for the second division (Race 3), well, it’s a wide-open affair. All eight starters are looking to hit the wire first in a pari-mutuel start. There are two fillies (I Will Take Credit and Martini Lindy) who posted wins in qualifiers, while Steel Wheels got her photo taken via a disqualification.
Every Day Hanover (Credit Winner-Emmamazing) has received the slight 3-1 morning line nod. She will score from the rail with Jim Morrill Jr. in the sulky. She comes in from Harrah's Philadelphia and the stable of star trainer Ron Burke.
Steel Wheels (Lucky Chucky-Some Girls) has drawn Post 8. She won via disqualification on July 3 in a $15,000 Excelsior Series race at Vernon Downs. Her win time was 2:02.4. She will be handled once again by Gates Brunet.
In the fourth and final leg (Race 7), Swinging Royalty (RC Royalty Swing Anna Cash) looks like the one to catch. She has been perfect in three charted races, with the last being a five and a quarter-length victory in her first pari-mutuel start. She crushed the field in 2:02.1 at Monticello on July 3. Chris Lems, who won three races at Buffalo Raceway on Sunday, will handle the driving duties and they are the 2-1 early choice from Post 3.
The Burke coupled entry of Love Crazy Love (Crazed-Love U Overandover) and Goosebump Hanover (RC Royalty-Good Common Cents) looks extremely dangerous. They drew Post 1 and Post 2, respectively, and will open at 3-1.
Love Crazy Love (Brunet) closed fast for a half-length victory in the NYSS at Monticello on July 3, tripping the timer in 2:03. Goosebump Hanover, after breaking at the start Monticello on July 3, re-qualified nicely on July 7 at Pocono Downs and lost by a nose in 2:00.1.
(Buffalo Raceway)