by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- In what looked to be a showdown between
three previous winners in the New York Sire Stakes for the 2-year-old filly
pacers, Betterthangraduate turned it into a blow out by destroying her
competition in 1:57.1, the fastest of the three $36,000 (approx.) divisions at
Buffalo Raceway on Sunday afternoon (July 16).
Betterthangraduate had to battle Walk From Heaven and Twin B
Peaches who each had successful debuts in Vernon Down on July 7. But only one
was going to come out with bragging rights and that was Betterthangraduate
(Chris Lems) who easily beat Twin B Peaches by a comfortable 3-1/2 lengths.
In the other two legs ,Ubettergo Go was sent off at 1-to-9
odds and she responded like a heavy favorite should by romping to an easy two
length victory over American Myth in 1:57.2 while Another Lawsuit got a perfect
trip and pounced on the opportunity late to nip the pace-setting Kim's The Best
by a neck in 1:57.3.
Fresh off a 1:55 victory in the Sire Stakes at Vernon Downs,
Betterthangraduate made it two straight victories with a gate-to-wire journey
around the Buffalo Raceway half-mile oval. With fractions of 29.2, 59.2 and
1:28.2, Bettergraduate only received a minor challenge in the last panel from
Twin B Peaches (Jody Jamieson) but it wasn't nearly enough. Princess Dalia
(Marcus Miller) took the show position.
Betterthangraduate (Betterthancheddar-Western Graduate) has
now won twice in three career starts for trainer Ron Burke, putting $35,658 in
the bank. She is co-owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Silva Purnel & Libby,
Pete Collura and Weaver Bruscemi.
Ubettergo Go is also undefeated in her two New York Sire
Stakes races. She had no issues in trouncing the field that was scratched down
to five due as Classy Chris and Azreal As It Gets were excused due to illness.
With fractions of 29.8, 59.4 and 1:29.4, Ubettergo Go
($2.10) breezed to the wire while American Myth (Dan Rawlings) and Pleasant
Beauty (Marcus Miller) finished in second and third respectively.
Co-owned by trainer Blake MacIntosh, Tony Basile, Reginald
Petitpas and Ozzie MacKay, Ubettergo Go (Art Major-Ubetterthink Think)
increased her seasonal bankroll to $31,858.
Another Lawsuit (Jim Morrill Jr.) sprung a $14.00 surprise
in the opening division as she made a last gasp effort from the pocket to push
past the pace-setting Kim's The Best. Sand Artist (Marcus Miller) took the
third place check.
Owned by Carl Stackheim and trained by Nicholas DeVita, it
was the first win in two starts for Another Lawsuit (American Ideal-Court
Stenographer).
In the Excelsior A Series, KJ's Bekah zoomed around the
track in 1:58.2 to register the $3.00 victory for Jamieson to highlight the
three $15,000 classifications. Never Walk Alone produced a huge $66.50 upset in
2:00.0 with Chris Lems in the sulky while KJ's Justine (Brett Miller) notched a
popular $2.30 decision in 2:00.1.
Jericho Diva (Monti) produced the fastest time in the
Excelsior B Series with a 1:58.2 time and returned $2.70 for the win. Surreal
Feeling uncorked a $22.00 shocker in 2:00.2 for Marcus Miller while Pasta Blue
Chip (Jamieson) took the final $6,600 bracket with a 2:00.1 trip that returned
$3.50.
Jamieson finished the afternoon with three wins with Lems,
Monti and Marcus Miller getting doubles. Toscano and MacIntosh had a pair of
training victories.
There was a mishap during the Excelsior A Series, the fourth
race on the card. Drivers Larry Stalbaum and Morrill Jr. were involved with
both being taken off their remaining rides on the card. Only Stalbaum was taken
to the Erie County Medical Center to be evaluated. The filly pacers Eazy
Spreezy and Tell Me A Joke both appeared to be uninjured.
The final week of the 2017 season will begin on Wednesday
night with 10 races scheduled. There's a $882 carryover in the Pick-5 which
begins in the second race.
For more information including the latest news, race
replays, results and upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
