by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- There's not a lot of quantity when the New
York Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old trotting fillies rolls into Buffalo Raceway
on Sunday afternoon (July 17) but there is definitely some good quality.
There are just 14 ladies entered in the two races with each
going for a stellar purse of $60,200. The powerful Ron Burke stable has four
trotters involved with the Cummings brothers, Kevin and Todd, scheduled to
pilot the coupled entry in each event. Surprisingly, none are morning line
favorites.
The high-steppers will also be chasing the Buffalo Raceway
track record of 1:58.2 set in 2015 by High Rise in what is expected to be a
perfect afternoon for racing.
The first division will kickoff off the Sunday card which
begins at 12:30 p.m. Straight A Student (Credit Winner-Smarter Than Smart) gets
the rail for driver Mark MacDonald and is the 2-1 morning line pick.
Straight A Student, who is trained by Paul Kelley, has been
a bridesmaid most of this season with five second place finishes in seven
tries. She was a heart broken second in her last start on July 10 at Tioga
Downs, finishing 1-1/2 lengths behind Swinging Royalty in the NYSS. Despite
only one win this season, Straight A Student has amassed $41,785 in earnings.
The Burke entry of Goosebump Hanover (Rc Royalty-Good Common
Cents) and Winning Princess (Credit Winner-Cabaret Princess) will start from
the four and seven post respectively.
Goosebump Hanover (Kevin Cummings) has earned $147,215 in
her career but has only victory in 2016, that coming at Tioga Downs on July 1
in the Tompkins Stakes in 1:55.2.
Last season at Buffalo Raceway, Goosebump Hanover notched a
2:01.4 victory in the New York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters with
Kevin Cummings aboard. The pair are hoping lightning will strike twice.
Winkys Gal (John Stark Jr.) enters on a two-race win streak.
Drawing the two post, Winkys Gal (Rc Royalty-Tessel) is fresh off a 16-1/2
length romp in a conditioned trot at Saratoga and followed that up with a 1-3/4
length decision in a $15,000 Excelsior Series A event at Tioga on July 10.
The second leg of the New York Sire Stakes is slated for the
fourth race with the razor-sharp Swinging Royalty listed as the 2-1 morning
line choice for driver Chris Lems.
With eight starts under her belt already in 2016, Swinging
Royalty (Rc Royalty-Swing Anna Cash) has put $102,739 in the bank this season.
In her most recent start on July 10 at Tioga, she went gate-to-wire in 1:56.2
from the seven post to get the stakes win. Lems will have a stern test once
again as they drew the seven hole.
Swinging Royalty has hit the board in all eight starts this
year, including a second place finish in the finals of the $225,000 Empire
Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs on June 19.
The main competitor could be Fad Finance who gets the
services of Buffalo Raceway's leading driver Jim Morrill Jr.
In her most recent try on July 10 at Tioga Downs, Morrill
Jr. guided Fad Finance (Credit Winner-Armbro Vanity) to an easy two-length win
in 1:54.3. in a $40,200 division of the New York Sire Stakes.
Dolly Drama PV pulled a $153.50 shocker last year in NYSS
action at Buffalo Raceway and returns again this season with Drew Monti in the
sulky. Dolly Drama PV (Lucky Chucky-Massive Drama) drew the pylons and is
tabbed at 6-1.
The 11-race program will also feature two $15,000 races in
the Excelsior A Series and a pair of $6,700 contests in the Excelsior B
Series.
For more information including the latest news, upcoming
promotions, race replays and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
