HAMBURG, N.Y. --- There's another bull's eye on a Buffalo
Raceway track record on Wednesday night when the New York Sire Stakes for
2-year-old colt and gelding trotters take dead aim at the 2:01.2 mark set by
Timothy Patrick (2012) and The Lindy Treaty (2013).
With this classification's time either broke or tied the
past two seasons, a new mark could easily be established. There's been a total
of five standards either tied or broken at Buffalo Raceway this season. There's
total of 30 talented freshmen trotters that are entered in the the four $27,250
division, all ready to take their best shot. For most, this will be their first
'real' start.
Lucky Chucky has sired eight of the entrants while Conway
Hall is next with seven, RC Royalty six, Crazed five, Credit Winner three and
Cash Hall one.
The first division will go off as the second race with Royal
Conway (RC Royalty-Miss Conway) scoring from the two post as the 5-2 favorite
with Gates Brunet in the sulky. Royal Conway registered a 1:58.2 qualifier at
Vernon Downs on June 27.
The main threat could come from Lucky Ten K (Lucky
Chucky-Promising Deal) who gets the services of Chris Lems out of the six spot.
Lucky Ten K has a 2:00 and a 2:00.3 qualifier under his belt at Vernon and is
the 3-1 second choice.
In the second division, set as the third race, Azucar
(Crazed-Lindy Loves Candy) has a pari-mutual win already after scoring a
two-length victory at Vernon Downs in 1:58.1. He'll start from the six post for
Brunet and open at 3-1 odds.
The morning line favorite, however, is Wings Of Royalty (RC
Royalty-Sparkling Cider) at 5-2. He gets the seven post for Lems. Wings Of
Royalty opened with a 2:02.2 qualifier then sprung a 1:59.1 time over the
Vernon Downs surface.
It could be a battle from the inside posts in the third leg,
scheduled as the fifth race. Drinksforthehouse (Conway Hall-Pacific Photo) gets
the garden spot and Lems. He enters as the 5-2 morning line choice thanks to a
1:58.4 qualifier at Vernon Downs.
He'll be challenged from the inside by Four Buck Chuck
(Lucky Chucky-Bama Hall) who has Doug McNair in the bike. Four Buck Chuck has a
2:03.4 clocking in a qualifier over the 7/8-mile Mohawk Raceway Track. He's
listed at 3-1.
Habitat (Conway Hall-Habit's Best) has been sensational over
the Gaitway Farm's mile track, producing times of 1:58.1 and 1:59.4, winning his
two qualifiers by a combined 33 lengths. He'll have Jim Morrill Jr. at the
controls and is the 5-2 morning line selection.
Mambo Blue Chip (Lucky Chucky-Flirty Two) arrives from the
Meadowlands with miles of 2:01 and 2:03. He'll begin out of the four post at
3-1 for Jeff Gregory.
While Morrill Jr. is listed on just one favorite in the four
Sires Stakes races, be very aware of him. He's been in 40 races thus far in the
Sire Stakes with 15 victories. He's been in the money another 14 times and has
earned $463,493, far and away the best among all drivers.
Looking at his Excelsior Series statistics, Morrill Jr. has
been in 64 races and has won 18 of them and has been in the money 27 other
times.
His seasonal totals at Buffalo Raceway are astounding as
well with 66 starts, 25 victories and has been in the money 71 percent of the
time with $257,463 in winnings.
There will be a non-betting $6,300 Excelsior Series B races
at 4:40 p.m. while a pair of $12,500 Excelsior Series A races will be sprinkled
in the regular 12-race card that gets underway at 5 p.m.
For more information, including upcoming promotions, news,
race replays and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
