Buffalo Raceway has seen 10 track records either tied or broken during its 2018 season, and when the two-year-old colt and geldings step onto the racing surface Wednesday night (July 18) in a pair of $53,500 divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS), a pair of long-standing marks could be in serious jeopardy.
The oldest record currently listed is for two-year-old geldings of 1:56.3 was established in 2010 by Roadside Delight, while the colt's barrier of 1:55.4 was set in 2013 by Hes Watching. With near perfect weather conditions in the forecast, another editing of the record book is possible.
One entrant is already in possession of a track standard at Monticello Raceway, and that is Melodies Major (Art Major-Hilarious) who will appear in the opener on the 10-race card. He's a perfect two-for-two in his brief career, which includes a record time of 1:54.3 at Monticello on July 4. That time erased the previous barrier of 1:55.2 which had been clocked by Freedomformysoul in 2014.
Melodies Major, who has captured both his sire stakes races, has drawn the two post and is the even-money morning line favourite. Tyler Buter has received the call to be in the sulky. Melodies Major has yet to trail in any of his pari-mutual starts and has amassed $53,250 already.
His main competition could come from Jack Nation, a winner last time out in the NYSS on July 4 at Monticello in 1:57. Having drawn the rail for listed driver Jim Morrill Jr., Jack Nation (American Ideal-Ladyjack) was 12 lengths behind at one point, but closed like a train to pull off a half-length score over Covered Bridge (American Ideal-Stonebridge Kisses).
The field of six also will also include KJ Leo (Jason Bartlett), Keystone Dakota (Kevin Cummings), Covered Bridge (Jim Marohn Jr.) and Rock American (Scott Coulter).
The second division, which has been slated for the back half of the early daily double, looks to be a wide-open event. Bicorne Hanover has received the slight 2-1 morning line edge and will start from the pylons. Cummings will steer the Ron Burke-trained colt. Bicorne Hanover (Art Major-Boldnbrash Hanover) has a second and fourth-place finish from his two sire stakes appearances.
Jojos Place (Roll With Joe-Angel Place) hopes to get out of a third-place rut. Conditioned by John Butenschoen, he's had two show finishes in his pair of NYSS outings and will get the services of Bartlett out of the four spot.
Completing the field will be Shanghai Bobby (Morrill Jr.), Bean (Coulter), P Zonka (Drew Monti) and Jet Rock (Marohn Jr.).
There are also a pair of $15,000 Excelsior ‘A’ Series races on the program and a $6,400 leg of the Excelsior ‘B’ Series. First post will be at 5 p.m.
(Buffalo Raceway)