by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- The ingredients are all there for what
could be one of the most anticipated races in recent memory at Buffalo Raceway
as the 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers arrive for the New York Sire Stakes
on Wednesday evening (June 5).
The recipe will include the NYSS 2-year-old colt and gelding
pacing champion Reigning Deo. Added to the mix will be Melodies Major, the
runner up to Reigning Deo last season and also the current Buffalo Raceway
track record holder for 2-year-old colt pacers with a 1:54.2 time.
And If that's not enough, there will be six other rivals
ready to stir the pot as they battle for $118,800, one of the largest purses
ever offered at Buffalo Raceway. It will go off as the sixth race on the
12-race program that will begin at 5 p.m.
Reigning Deo (Rock N Roll Heaven-Little Miss K) has been
installed as the 3-to-1 morning line choice out of the six post with Jim
Morrill Jr. to handle the driving duties.
It's been close but no cigar this season for Reigning Deo as
the Brett Pelling trainee has three second place finishes in his three outings.
There's plenty of hope though as Reigning Deo was just a neck behind
Fromthestartagain last week in Sire Stakes action at Saratoga.
Reigning Deo, a winner of $271,413 in his brief career, beat
Major Melodies by 1-1/2 lengths in the Night Of Champions finals last season at
Yonkers Raceway. The final time was 1:54.4.
Melodies Major (Art Major-Hilarious) is also in search of
his first win of the campaign. He'll begin the action from the three post for
driver Doug McNair with a 5-to-1 morning line.
Trying to cut the mile in his only two appearances in 2019,
Melodies Major has finished in third and fourth at Saratoga and Yonkers
respectively. He has bankrolled $222,683 lifetime.
Western New York has been great thus far for Melodies Major.
Trained by Mark Ford, he scored two NYSS victories last season, each in track
record times. He made his first mark at Buffalo Raceway with a 1:54.2 and then
at Batavia Downs where he toured the course in 1:54.1.
The current record standards at Buffalo Raceway are 1:52.3
for the geldings set in 2012 by Steelhead Hanover while the colt mark is 1:51.4
established in 2018 by Hitman Hill.
The one to watch out for is Fromthestartagain (So
Surreal-From The Start). Drew Monti will be in the sulky and will score from
the four spot at 4-to-1 odds.
Not racing as a 2-year-old old, Fromthestartagain arrives on
a two-race winning streak including a neck decision over Reigning Deo at
Saratoga in 1:53.0 on May 26. He has seven races under his belt with three wins
and two third place finishes, good for $47,000 in earnings.
American Mercury, installed at 6-to-1 from the eight post
for driver Tyler Buter, had a nose win in his last try at Saratoga in NYSS
competition, covering the mile in 1:52.0.
The remainder of the field includes Price Hanover (Scott
Zeron), Hurrikane Kingklee (Pat Lachance), Major March (Jason Bartlett), and A
Major Omen (Billy Davis Jr.).
There will be two $15,000 Excelsior Class A events and a
$6,600 Excelsior Class B race.
For more information including the latest news, race
replays, results, entries, upcoming promotions and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
