by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Eye Ofa Tiger continued his impressive
front-stepping style in the New York Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old colt and
gelding trotters at Buffalo Raceway on Sunday afternoon (July 9) with an easy
1-1/2 length win over Swell Chap in 1:57.2 in the first division worth $60,000
(approx.).
It was survival of the fittest in the second event as
Guardian Angel AS ($3.40) benefited from breaking horses in easily disposing of
Neon Lights by eight lengths in 1:57.1, the fastest of the two legs. All but
Guardian Angel AS and Neon Lights had clean trips around the track as the
remaining four either broke or were involved in the commotion created by the
missteps.
It was a good afternoon for co-owners Acl Stuteri Ab
and Kjell Johnsson, trainer Anette Lorentzon and driver Jason Bartlett as the
connections swept both Sire Stakes races.
Coming in off a pair of open length victories at Yonkers,
Eye Ofa Tiger (Jason Bartlett) played 'come and get me' over the Hamburg
half-mile oval. Putting up fractions of 29.3, 59.2 and 1:29.1, Eye Ofa Tiger
($3.50) felt little pressure from the remaining five competitors in the lane
and trotted away to the 1-1/2 length win. Swell Chap (Drew Monti) took the
place position with Money MacIntosh (Andy Miller) rounding out the top three.
Bartlett said, "Eye Ofa Tiger is real sharp right now.
He's a nice little horse. He likes being on the front end but can come from
behind as well."
Eye Ofa Tiger (Chapter Seven-Cascade AS) is a
3-year-old gelding that has four wins in six tries in 2017, pushing his season
earnings to $71,970 and $94,690 lifetime.
In the second division, it was a three-horse breakaway by
the first quarter marker. Arch Credit (Jim Morrill Jr.) led the way with Neon
Lights (Chris Lems) and Guardian Angel AS following in second and third
respectively.
After splits of 29.1, 58.1 and 1:28.0, Guardian Angel AS was
first over and looked to challenge Arch Credit at the top of the stretch. But
things got much easier for him as Arch Credit jumped it off, allowing Guardian
Angel AS to jog home uncontested. Neon Lights finished in second while Another
Chapter (Per Henrikson) picked up the pieces and took third.
Bartlett stated that he had planned to leave off the gate
with Guardian Angel AS "just to see what would happen." That plan
changed quickly. "I had to go easy with him into that first turn to keep
him flat," Bartlett added. "I thought we'd win despite the break by
Arch Credit."
It was the fifth win in six attempts this season for
Guardian Angel AS (Archangel-Provide AS). The victory moved the 3-year-old
colt's seasonal winnings to $76,857 and $90,350 lifetime.
Big Man Ev (Miller) was the quickest in the two $15,000
Excelsior A Series races with a 1:58.0 tour over the Hamburg half-mile oval,
returning $13.40 to his backers. Patton (Lems) pulled a minor surprise in the
second division with $9.20 decision in 2:00.4.
In the Excelsior B Series, New York Chrome ($4.90) went
gate-to-wire in 2:01.2 to take the victory for Lems in the first division
while Finally Michaels ($3.90) had no problems in posting the 2:02.2 win in the
second leg for Miller. Trainer David Dewhurst swept both events Excelsior B
Series.
David McNeight III, Miller and Lems finished the afternoon
of racing with each getting doubles.
Racing will resume on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with a
12-race card scheduled. The program will begin the final two weeks of action at
Buffalo Raceway for the 2017 season.
For more information including upcoming promotions, race
replays, results and the latest news, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
