by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- To say the track record of 1:59.0 for the
3-year-old fillies at Buffalo Raceway is vulnerable on Sunday afternoon (July
12) is an understatement.
With warm weather and a fast track expected, the sophomore
filly trotters will be taking dead aim on the mark established by Glowngold in
2014 when they hit the Buffalo Raceway half-mile surface for the New York Sire
Stakes.
Post time for the 13-race program is 1:05 p.m.
Local favorite Barn Doll is the leading candidate to wipe
out the mark. Barn Doll (Conway Hall-Headintheclouds) set the track record
at Saratoga on June 4th with a 1:55.3 time over the half-time track
and headlines the first division, set for the third race.
Scoring from the five post for driver Jeff Gregory, Barn
Doll has been installed as the heavy even money morning line favorite. She's a
winner of over $400,000 in just 15 career starts and looks to make it six
straight victories.
Barn Doll won impressively in the $248,275 Empire Breeders
Crown on June 21 at Vernon Downs in 1:52.1. She is co-owned locally by Steven
and Nancy Pratt of Corfu, N.Y. and the Purple Haze Stables of Fairport,
N.Y. Barn Doll is 5-for-6 in 2015 with $193,074 in the bank. She also has been
either first or second in 14-of-15 career appearances.
If a challenger is going to defeat Barn Doll, it could be
Summers Windsong (Rc Royalty-O Dana O) who lost by a nose in 1:58.1 on July 5
at Goshen in an Excelsior 'A' Series race. Ray Schnittker trains and drives the
filly and will guide her from the two post.
The second division, scheduled as the seventh race, looks
wide open with Jewels In Hock with Hall of Fame driver John Campbell in the
sulky getting a 4-1 morning line. She won by a nose in 1:58.1 at Goshen on July
5, edging out Summers Windsong.
Campbell, who hasn't raced at Buffalo Raceway since 1992,
hasn't won here since 1990. He hopes to break the 25-year drought with a win
off the rail with Jewels In Hock (Credit Winner-Jewels Galore). She is the top
money winner in the field with $86,770 in the bank.
Lady Winona (Credit Winner-Ladylind) looks to be rounding
into form after a sharp three-length win on July 4 in 1:54.1 at the
Meadowlands. Starting from the four spot, Lady Winona will have Andy Miller in
the bike for trainer Julie Miller. They are sitting at 2-1 in the morning line.
A horse to watch out for is Northern Obsession who starts
from the seven post for driver Greg Merton. She has handle half-mile tracks
very well with a win a Freehold and three narrow losses at Yonkers and
Saratoga. Northern Obsession (Conway Hall-Northernpossession) is 5-1 on the
morning line.
There will also be two $15,000 Excelsior Series 'A' races on
the matinee card along with a pair of $6,660 Excelsior 'B' Series events.
For more information including the latest news, upcoming
promotions, results and race replays, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
