HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Glowngold set a new track record and Market
Rally got that winning feeling back to highlight the two $59,100 divisions of
the New York Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old filly trotters at Buffalo Raceway
on a picture perfect Sunday afternoon (June 15).
Former Buffalo Raceway regular Jim Morrill Jr. was in the
sulky for both the Sire Stakes victories.
Was it home track advantage? Morrill Jr. grinned and said,
"Not sure cause you still gotta have the horses."
Glowngold ($4.70) went wire-to-wire in the first division,
covering the mile in 1:59.0, breaking the old mark of 1:59.1 for 3-year-old
filly trotters set by Brandnewgirlfriend in 2009.
"She settled in perfectly on the front end,"
Morrill Jr. said of Glowngold, who posted the fractions of 29.4, 1:00 and
1:29.2. "I was a little surprised I got the lead...I wasn't looking for
it. I figured I'd be sitting no worse than fourth at the start. I was actually
looking for Avalicious (Doug McNair) but she broke."
He admitted in the winner's circle that he was surprised
with setting a track record but said, "The track was fast and she
(Glowngold) did everything she needed to do. It was a smooth trip."
Beauty Of Gray (Jim Meittinis) looked like she might collar
Glowngold in the stretch but finished a length back while Flyhawk Falina (Dan
Daley) took the show spot.
Glowngold (Conway Hall-Glow) is owned by the Andy Miller
Stables, Blue Chip Stables and Highland Green Fins with Julie Miller the
trainer. It was her second win in 11 starts this season and has now earned
$85,726 this season.
Market Rally, the NYSS 2-year-old filly trotting champion,
has gotten off to a rough start in 2014 but Buffalo Raceway and the services of
Morrill Jr. proved to be the perfect cure. Sitting in the garden spot, Market
Rally ($3.30) went to the passing lane in the stretch and caught L Dees
Scripture (Chris Lems) and the pace-setting Winning Pursuit (Doug McNair),
scoring by a half length in 2:00.4.
"She got a good trip," Morrill Jr. said of Market
Rally. "She's gotten off to a bad start this year so it was nice to see
her to have this kind of race."
Trained by Ron Burke and owned by the Burke Racing Stable,
Our Horse Cents Stable, Panhellenic Stables and Weaver Bruscemi, it was the
first win of the year for Market Rally (Cash Hall-Supreme Dish). The victory
was worth $29,500 and increased her lifetime bankroll to $311,316.
In the $12,500 Excelsior Series A classification for
3-year-old filly trotters, Maiden Knight (Dan Daley) won the first division in
2:01.3 and Emiliana (Jack Flanigen) took the second division in 2:00.1.
The $6,600 Excelsior Series B classification saw
Dreamsteeler (Doug Ackley) make it a perfect 11-for-11 in her career with a
2:00.2 time while Driving Me Linda (Jeff Gregory) won the second division in
2:02.4.
There were three events in the CKG Billings Amateur Series
with Steve Oldford, Dr. Scott Woogen and Anthony Verruso all driving home
winners.
Racing will return on Wednesday night with a 13-race card
set for 5 p.m. The New York Sires Stakes will be back with the 3-year-old filly
pacers in the spotlight.
For more information including race replays, results,
upcoming promotions and the latest news, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
