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Saturday, July 11, 2015

Barn Doll Top Entrant In NYSS At Buffalo Raceway

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