by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. ---- It was 'Miller time' at Buffalo Raceway
on Wednesday night (July 13) as the husband and wife combination of Andy and
Julie dominated the action in the New York Sire Stakes for the 2-year-old colt
and gelding trotters.
The Millers won three $27,250 divisions as Devious Man set a
new mark for the 2-year-old colt trotters with a 1:59.2 tour over the Hamburg
half-mile oval but only to see stablemate Money Macintosh come along and
absolutely destroy it three races later with a powerful 1:58.4 time. Big Man Ev
completed the Miller 'trifecta' by taking his race with a 2:00.0 time.
Devious Man first broke the Buffalo Raceway colt standard of
1:59.3 set in 2014 by Royal Deceptor but didn't celebrate it for long as
Money Macintosh quickly erased it.
To cap off the night, the Millers took a $15,000 Excelsior A
Series bracket as Southwind Cruze ($2.60) trotted the mile in 2:02.2. Andy
finished the evening with a five-bagger in the sulky while Julie finished
with four training victories.
It was Western New York connections that took the final New
York Sire Stakes division as Barn Winner remained undefeated, cruising to an
easy 1-3/4 length win in 2:00.0 with former Buffalo Raceway regular Jeff
Gregory in the bike.
Barn Winner is co-owned by locals Steven and Nancy Pratt of
Corfu, N.Y. and Out In The Country Stables of Darien Center, N.Y.
In Money Macintosh's track record victory, it looked like an
instant replay of Devious Man's effort...sit back third, get to the backstretch
the final time, use a big brush to the top and never look back.
Lindy The Second was in charge through an opening half of
1:00.0 but was stunned as Money Macintosh ($4.00) exploded and took command,
romping to an impressive four length decision over Lindy The Second (Morrill
Jr.). Annapolis Hall (Ray Schnittker) took the show position.
"He loves to work," Miller said of Money
Macintosh. "I asked him to go at the five-eighths pole and he really
responded." A 28.2 final quarter mile proved that Money Macintosh wasn't
fooling around.
Money Macintosh (Credit Winner-Apple Plush) is owned by
Stroy Inc.
In the second division, Devious Man ($4.30) relinquished the
lead to Eastern Promise to the opening panel and that move proved to work out
perfectly.
Eastern Promise (John Campbell) went to the half in a wicked
59.1 and could only watch as Devious Man blew past him midway down the
backstretch the final time.
It looked like Optimist Blue Chip was going to pose a
serious threat in the lane but Devious Man found another gear and trotted off
to the two length victory. Optimist Blue Chip (Jim Morrill Jr.) managed second
and Desired Effect (Jeff Gregory) took the show spot.
"He's a handy trotter," Miller said of Devious
Man. "He had a couple of nice bursts in the race. The first was going down
the backstretch and then in the stretch. I was cautious going around the final
turn but once he straightened out, he was able to get going again."
Devious Man (Credit Winner-Miss Garland) is owned by
Stroy Inc. and was able to capture his first lifetime win in his second
appearance.
A perfect first over trip by Big Man Ev ($18.60) got the
Millers off to a great start on the night, notching 1-1/2 length win over Neon
Lights in 2:00.0.
Lightning Lindy was able to set the tempo with times of
30.0, 1:00.4 and 1:31.1. Big Man Ev was sitting in third and started his
winning journey down the backstretch and wore down the pace-setter in mid
stretch helped by a 28.4 last quarter.
Neon Lights (Chris Lems) rallied late to grab the place
position while Lightning Lindy (Sam Schillaci) held on for third.
Big Man Ev (Chapter Seven-Possessed By Lindy) is co-owned by
the Andy Miller Racing Stable, the Lindy Racing Stable and Harvey Eisman. It
was the first victory for Big Man Ev in two career tries.
Barn Winner (Credit Winner-Hallmarker) had little problem in
getting around his stomping grounds in 2:00.0 for Gregory. After playing the
give-and-go with Aces And Eights (Dan Daley), Barn Winner found no threats the
rest of the way. He was able to turn back Aces And Eights by a non-threatening
1-3/4 lengths while Odeon Blue Chip (Morrill Jr.) was third.
It was the second win in as many career starts for Barn
Winner with both victories coming in New York Sire Stakes competition.
In the $15,000 Excelsior A Series, Carmen's Fluke ($3.90)
took the first division in 2:00.4 with Campbell in the bike.
Chili ($6.50) took the second leg with a 2:02.3 triumph and
Southwind Cruze captured the third division with a 2:02.3 clocking with Miller
steering both to victories.
Yank Me Away (Chris Lems) took the first $6,700 Excelsior B
Series race in 2:07.1 and returned $5.10 while Security Guard (Kevin Cummings)
found the winner's circle in 2:06.3 and paid $6.30 to his backers.
Princess Katie took the $9,000 pace for the filly and mares
as driver Ray Fisher Jr. guided her to the mild $10.40 upset in 1:56.1.
Racing will resume on Friday evening at 5 p.m. with an
11-race program set.
For more information including the latest news, upcoming
promotions, race replays and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
