by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Gotmyredressontnit put up the fastest mile
while Soft Idea and Encore Deo also found the winner's circle in their
first career starts to highlight the action in the three $36,566 divisions of
the New York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers at Buffalo Raceway
Wednesday night (July 1).
The track record at Buffalo Raceway of 1:56.3 set by Silk
Purse in 2011 and tied by Summertime Lea in 2012 will remain safe for another
season.
The first division was the quickest
as Gotmyredressontnit just missed the track record with a 1:56.4
clocking while Soft Idea and Encore Deo each went the mile in 1:57.3
over the fast track.
The favored Gotmyredressontnit ($4.10) toyed with the field
in the first division. Sitting third at the quarter pole, driver Jason Bartlett
said it was time to go with Gotmyredressontnit and took command. She was on
cruise control from there, going 58.1 in the second half mile, including a 28.2
last panel to pull away from runner up Wishy Washy Girl (Jordan Stratton) by
2-3/4 lengths while Another Look (Tom Jackson) finished in third..
Bartlett said after the race, "This filly is really
fast. She's high speed and has a great gait." He added that he was
confident when they passed the half-mile pole. "The way she's been
qualifiying, I knew we had it won at the half mile. I still haven't pulled the
plugs on her." Gotmyredressontnit won her two non-betting prep races by
3-1/2 and 4-1/2 lengths.
Owned and trained by Janice Connor, Gotmyredressontnit (Roll
With Joe-Western Top Cat) is now a perfect 1-for-1 in her young career.
In the second division, a gutsy drive by Scott Zeron in the
passing lane allowed Soft Idea (American Ideal-Walk Softly) to score a narrow
victory over Vino And Formaggio and Angels Rockn Pink in an exciting blanket
finish that was decided by a mere head.
Angels Rockn Pink (John MacDonald) set the fractions of
29.1, 59.0 and 1:28.1. They looked home free at the top of the stretch but
things started to fall apart. The leg-weary Angels Rockn Pink was begging for
the finish line but Soft Idea and Vino And Formaggio (Kevin Cummings) were
pacing strong to the finish.
Soft Idea ($13.60) went as far down the passing lane as
possible and managed to nose past the game Vino And Formaggio at the wire
while Angels Rockn Pink was a head back.
Zeron admitted it was a tight squeeze down the stretch. He
then added, "She was loaded the entire mile. I backed her off around the
turns but down the stretch, I had a ton of horse."
Soft Idea is trained by Linda Toscano and is co-owned by the
South Mountain Stable, the Bay's Stable, Radio Racing Stable and Little E LLC.
After losing a narrow decision in the second leg of the Sire
Stakes, Cummings got his revenge in the third and final division aboard Encore
Deo ($10.80).
Blasting to the top from the five post, Encore Deo, a
$100,000 Lexington Sales purchase, played a game of catch me if you can and
ended up wiring the field of seven. Putting up fractions of 30.1, 59.4 and
1:28.4, a 28.4 last quarter panel was enough to hold off any late threat. No
Clouds Bluechip (Bartlett) finished 3/4 lengths back while Dime A Dance
(Stratton) took the show spot.
"She handled the track really well," Cummings said
of Encore Deo (Rock N Roll Hanover-Docdor Cameo). "I was a hair worried
around the last turn, but once she straightened out in the stretch, she had a a
lot left."
Encore Deo is trained by Ron Burke and co-owned by the Burke
Stable, Weaver Buscemi, Jason Melillo and Lawrence Karr.
In the $15,000 Excelsior 'A' Series, it was a clean sweep
for Jim Morrill Jr. as he guided Amazon Ideal ($3.40) to a 2:00.3 win and was
in the sulky with Roll Of Dreams ($4.00) who turned in a 2:00.1 time.
The $6,800 Excelsior 'B' Series went to Milky Way Rae
($4.20) who toured the Buffalo Raceway half-mile oval in 2:00.4 with Bartlett
in the bike.
BZ Glide (Morrill Jr.) was victorious in the $10,500 Open
Trot in 1:57.2 and returned $2.70 for the win. Morrill Jr. finished the night
with four victories.
Country Delight ($4.00) went coast-to-coast in notching a
1:57.3 win in the $9,500 Open pace for the filly and mares. John Cummings Jr.
handled the driving duties.
Racing will continue on Friday night at Buffalo Raceway with
11 races scheduled to go to the post at 6:35 p.m.
For more information including the latest news, upcoming
promotions, race replays and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
