Some of the best sophomore trotting colts and geldings on the Grand Circuit will be at Batavia Downs Wednesday afternoon (September 13) to contest a leg of the New York Sire Stakes.
The first $60,200 division (Race 3) will feature Yonkers Trot winner Top Flight Angel and Hambletonian finalist Guardian Angel AS.
Top Flight Angel (Archangel-Top Photo) was having a very solid year that turned outstanding for his connections last week when he won the $500,000 Yonkers Trot. Previous to that victory, he finished fourth in the Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs and had one win in a NYSS leg. He is currently seventh in points for the final and is in need of a win Wednesday to keep pace with the leaders and make the draw for the Night of Champions. With $331,916 earned and a mark of 1:55, he is as solid a choice in Wednesday’s race as you could want.
Top Flight Angel will start from Post 1 and has been listed at 7-5 on the morning line. He will be driven by Andy Miller for trainer Julie Miller.
Guardian Angel AS (Archangel-Provide AS) has recorded seven wins this year, two of which were in the NYSS. He raced in the Hambletonian final in August and was trotting second in the stretch when he was involved in the highly contentious interference call which saw him break and finish ninth. Most recently, Guardian Angel AS won his elimination of the Yonkers Trot, as he defeated Top Flight Angel in the process. He made a break in the final after the start and was never in the race after that.
Trainer Anette Lorentzon will have regular driver Jason Bartlett up behind Guardian Angel AS once again. The duo has drawn Post 4 and has been installed as the early 6-5 choice.
Lord Cromwell (Chapter Seven-Oh Oh Its Magic) is heading into the $61,300 second division on a two-race win streak and a freshly-set 1:54.3 lifetime mark which he took at Saratoga Raceway. Lord Cromwell won the $143,737 Dexter Cup at Freehold Raceway in May and was in the Empire Breeders Classic in June where he finished a close sixth after having been parked for the entire mile. He is the top money earner in his Wednesday race with $169,965 and is part of a stable entry with The Last Chapter (Chapter Seven-J C Josie).
Lord Cromwell will depart from Post 3 with Jim Morrill Jr. in tow. The Ed Hart trainee has been listed in the entry at 2-1.
Eye Ofa Tiger AS (Chapter Seven-Cascade AS) is the top point-getter in the NYSS for this category courtesy of two wins and three seconds in the series. In his last start at Saratoga, Eye Ofa Tiger AS was parked out the better part of the mile and still hung on tough to finish second behind Lord Cromwell, who cut it. For the year overall he has five wins and has never missed the board in 10 starts and those outings have put $138,660 on his card.
Like Guardian Angel AS, Eye Ofa Tiger AS is trained by Anette Lorentzon and will be driven by Jason Bartlett. He has Post 7 and is the early second choice at 5-2.
Also on the card are two $15,000 Excel ‘A’ series trots.
Post time for the first race is 5 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)