by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- The 2014 New York Sire Stakes 2-year-old
pacing filly champion Mosquito Blue Chip headlines the three divisions of the
traveling series that arrives at Buffalo Raceway Wednesday night (June 3)
starting at 5 p.m.
There will be three divisions of the Sire Stakes for the
3-year-old distaff pacers that will split the $105,000 pot.
With the Buffalo Raceway half-mile oval lightning fast, the
proof being three new marks set last Saturday night including Fireyourguns
posting an all-time mark of 1:52.0, the ladies will be shooting at the record
for their division of 1:54.1 established by Sweetnsinful in 2014.
The opening race on the 13-race program is loaded and will
feature Mosquito Blue Chip along with top rivals, Bossers Joy, Bettor N Better
and Not Before Eight. The seven entrants in the field have combined to win over
$800,000 in their careers thus far.
After winning the 2-year-old crown on September 13 at
Yonkers by a nose over Bossers Joy in 1:56.0, Mosquito Blue Chip hasn't quite
found her footing yet as a 3-year-old.
With two starts in New York Sire Stakes competition at
Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs along with a start in The Simpson at the
Meadowlands, Mosquito Blue Chip has finished no better than fourth in those
races.
Jim Morrill Jr. will get the nod aboard Mosquito Blue Chip
(Bettor's Delight-Sandfly Hanover) who starts from the five post as the 7-2
second choice in the morning line.
Not Before Eight (Bettor's Delight-Skinny Dip) didn't race
as a 2-year-old but the Steve Elliott-trained filly has been lights out in her
seven appearances in 2015. She has five victories in those starts and has
finished a game second and third in her only two tries in Sire Stakes races.
Not Before Eight is the morning line 5-2 choice with Rick Zeron scheduled to
drive.
Bettor N Bettor put over $225,000 in the bank in 2014 thanks
to strong showings in the 2-year-old Matron at Dover Downs and being involved
in the Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands. She has yet to hit the board in three
starts this year and will get the services of Matt Kakaley. They drew the four
post and are tagged at 5-1.
The deep field also includes Bossers Joy (Art Major-Esther's
Joy) who finished a tough-luck second to Mosquito Blue Chip in last year's Sire
Stakes final at Yonkers. She's been in two Sire Stakes this year with a second
place finish at Vernon and was battled tested in the Reynolds Stakes at the
Meadowlands. Bossers Joy, with earnings of over $133,000, will have Greg Merton
in the bike as the pair score from the three post at 9-2.
In the second Sire Stakes race, scheduled as the back half
of the early daily double, Beyonces Rockn arrives fresh off a second place
finish at Tioga, finishing two lengths in back of Bettor Be Steppin. The Rock N
Roll Heaven-Im Betting On You filly has been in the money in all nine
appearances this year with $41,314 earned. Morill Jr. will guide her as the 3-1
morning line choice from the five post.
The main threat should come the Ron Burke-trained Band Of
Angels (Rock N Roll Heaven-Time N Again) won over $187,000 last year and looks
to just be rounding into shape. She finished third in her most recent start at
Tioga Downs, finishing 2-1/2 behind Bettor Be Steppin. Kakaley is slated to
drive the 7-2 proposition out of the three spot.
The field of seven in the $39,900 second division has
combined earnings over $440,000.
The final $39,900 race on the Sire Stakes menu will have the
red-hot Bettorhaveanother as the one to catch. Tied for points lead with Bettor
Be Steppin (100 apiece) after two rounds of races, Bettorhaveanother is riding
a two-race win streak including back-to-back 1:51 victories in the Sire Stakes
at Tioga and Vernon Downs. She'll start from the six hole for Morrill Jr. as
the morning line choice at 2-1.
Heaven On Earth (Rock N Roll Hanover-Mango Hanover) arrives
for her first start in the Sire Stakes this year. She's coming off two
victories in her most three recent tries at Yonkers. James MacDonald will score
Heaven On Earth from the five post as the second pick on the morning line at
3-1.
There will also be a pair of $15,000 races in the Excelsior
'A' Series and a $6,800 non-betting race in the Excelsior 'B' Series that has a
4:30 p.m. post.
For more information including the latest news, race replays,
upcoming promotions and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
