by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- American Mercury ($6.50) overcame the
outside post to start the race then overwhelmed Major March in the stretch to
collect the victory in the $118,800 New York Sire Stakes event for the
3-year-old colt and gelding pacers at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (June
5).
Covering the mile in 1:52.4, in was the second straight NYSS
victory for American Mercury.
"It's a steep hill to climb from the eight post here at
Buffalo," Buter said after the race. "I left hard with him but when
things straightened up, I let the leaders soften each other
up."
Starting from the outside, American Mercury was able to use
some early speed and drop into fourth heading up the backstretch the first
time. Major March, Melodies Major and Price Hanover showed no mercy toward each
other as they battled for early control.
With a smoking opening panel of :26.4 put up by Major March
(Jason Bartlett), American Mercury went first over and was able to come to even
terms with the pace-setter at the three-quarter pole in 1:24.1. In the
meantime, the remaining six entrants found those splits too hot and started to
retreat.
It boiled down to a match race in the stretch as American
Mercury was just too strong for Major March and never looked back in scoring
the 1-3/4-length win. Reigning Deo (Jim Morrill Jr), the 2-year-old NYSS
champion, was third 10-1/4 lengths behind.
Trained by Chris Oakes and co-owned by Crawford Farms,
Northfork Racing Stable, C. Pompey and S. Bice, it was the third win in fourth
tries this season for American Mercury (American Ideal-Tessa Hanover). The
gelding has now earned $105,050 this season and $142,670 lifetime.
There were two $15,000 divisions of the Excelsior A Series.
Buter drove Quake Blue Chip ($3.00) to the opening bracket triumph with a neck
score over Murrow Boy (Bartlett) in 1:55.3. Buter made it a sweep at this level
with a half-length win aboard Rickybobbynthehaus ($4.10). They beat the
front-stepping Rollonhighway (Morrill Jr.) in 1:56.3.
The $6,600 Excelsior B Series race saw McNulty Z Tam (Pat
Lachance) register a head victory over Dancing To Heaven (Shawn McDonough) in
1:57.3 and return $2.50 to his backers.
Buter and Billy Davis Jr. completed the evening with triples
while Oakes had three training victories and Sabrina Clevenger two.
Racing will resume on Friday evening at 5 p.m. with a
12-race card slated.
For more information including the latest news, race
replays, results, entries, upcoming promotions and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
