by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- There's plenty of hope and high
expectations on Friday night (June 30) at Buffalo Raceway as many of the
entrants in the New York Sire Stakes for the 2-year-old filly trotters begin
their racing careers in earnest.
There are 38 fillies that will be battling in five divisions
worth approximately $22,000 each and only four have actually had a
pari mutuel start so experience is basically non-existent. The only one
who has a trip to the winner's circle is Bonamassa (Muscle Mass-Under The
Pines). This sidewinder took a $6,000 maiden race by a neck in 1:59.3 at
Saratoga on June 22.
The sires of these freshmen is a like a 'Who's Who' in the
harness racing world. Some of the possible proud papas at the end of the night
include Muscle Mass, Conway Hall, Credit Winner, Lucky Chucky,
Deweycheatumnhowe. Rc Royalty and Chapter Seven.
While most of the names are unknown right now, top-notch
conditioners such as Ake Svanstedt, Trond Smedshammer, Ray Schnittker, George
Ducharme, Linda Toscano and John Butenschoen bring their charges to
Buffalo Raceway in hopes their trainees might household names.
One of Buffalo Raceway's longest standing track records
could be on the line as well. The mark for 2-year-old trotting fillies is
2:00.2 established in 2009 by Munis Blue Chip.
The Sires Stakes will go off as the second, third, fourth,
fifth and sixth races on the unique all-trot program.
The second division seems to be the most intriguing as
several big purchases from the Lexington Sale in 2016 will be involved..The
leader of the pack is Abbie Hall (Conway Hall-Armbro Archer) who was bought for
$85,000. She gets the six post for driver/trainer Trond Smedshammer.
Starting next to Abbie Hall off the seven post will be A
Gift To You (Credit Winner-Soprano Hanover), a $50,000 purchase at the
Lexington Sale. The George Ducharme trotter put up a 1:57.2 qualifying victory
at Vernon Downs on June 23.
The third leg features a pair of Lexington Sales gals who
went for nice prices. Kowtow Hanover (Credit Winner-Kristins Victory) was
purchased for $34,000 and Girl Talk (Credit Winner-Hey Mister) went for
$35,000.
Plunge Blue Chip (Muscle Mass-Dunk The Donato) tops the
final Sire Stakes event as she was bought for $42,000 at the Harrisburg
Sale.
The 14-race card gets underway Friday at 5 p.m. Besides the
New York Sire Stakes, there will be competition in the Excelsior A and B Series
along with the always exciting $10,000 Open Trot. There's $2,951 in the Pick-5
carryover which begins in the second race.
For more information including the latest news, upcoming
promotions, race replays and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
