Gotmyredressontnit put up the fastest mile while Soft Idea and Encore Deo also found the winner's circle in their first career starts to highlight the action in the three $36,566 divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for two-year-old filly pacers at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (July 1).
The divisional track record at Buffalo Raceway of 1:56.3 set by Silk Purse in 2011 and tied by Summertime Lea in 2012 will remain safe for another season.
The first division was the quickest as Gotmyredressontnit just missed the track record with a 1:56.4 clocking while Soft Idea and Encore Deo each went their miles in 1:57.3 over the fast track.
The favoured Gotmyredressontnit ($4.10) toyed with the field in the first division. Sitting third at the quarter pole, driver Jason Bartlett said it was time to go with Gotmyredressontnit and took command. She was on cruise control from there, going :58.1 in the second half mile, including a :28.2 last panel to pull away from runner-up Wishy Washy Girl (Jordan Stratton) by two and three-quarter lengths while Another Look (Tom Jackson) finished in third.
Bartlett said after the race, "This filly is really fast. She's high speed and has a great gait." He added that he was confident when they passed the half-mile pole. "The way she's been qualifying, I knew we had it won at the half-mile. I still haven't pulled the plugs on her." Gotmyredressontnit won her two non-betting prep races by three and a half length and four and a half lengths.
Owned and trained by Janice Connor, Gotmyredressontnit (Roll With Joe-Western Top Cat) is now a perfect one-for-one in her young career.
In the second division, a gutsy drive by Scott Zeron in the passing lane allowed Soft Idea (American Ideal-Walk Softly) to score a narrow victory over Vino And Formaggio and Angels Rockn Pink in an exciting blanket finish that was decided by a mere head.
Angels Rockn Pink (John MacDonald) set the fractions of :29.1, :59 and 1:28.1. They looked home free at the top of the stretch but things started to fall apart. The leg-weary Angels Rockn Pink was begging for the finish line but Soft Idea and Vino And Formaggio (Kevin Cummings) were pacing strong to the finish. Soft Idea ($13.60) went as far down the passing lane as possible and managed to nose past the game Vino And Formaggio at the wire while Angels Rockn Pink was a head back.
Zeron admitted it was a tight squeeze down the stretch. He then added, "She was loaded the entire mile. I backed her off around the turns but down the stretch, I had a ton of horse."
Soft Idea is trained by Linda Toscano and is co-owned by the South Mountain Stable, the Bay's Stable, Radio Racing Stable and Little E LLC.
After losing a narrow decision in the second leg of the Sire Stakes, Cummings got his revenge in the third and final division aboard Encore Deo ($10.80).
Blasting to the top from the five post, Encore Deo, a $100,000 Lexington Sale purchase, played a game of 'catch me if you can' and ended up wiring the field of seven. Putting up fractions of :30.1, :59.4 and 1:28.4, a :28.4 last quarter panel was enough to hold off any late threat. No Clouds Bluechip (Bartlett) finished three-quarters of a length back while Dime A Dance (Stratton) took the show spot.
"She handled the track really well," Cummings said of Encore Deo (Rock N Roll Hanover-Docdor Cameo). "I was a hair worried around the last turn, but once she straightened out in the stretch, she had a a lot left."
Encore Deo is trained by Ron Burke and co-owned by the Burke Stable, Weaver Buscemi, Jason Melillo and Lawrence Karr.
In the $15,000 Excelsior 'A' Series, it was a clean sweep for Jim Morrill Jr. as he guided Amazon Ideal ($3.40) to a 2:00.3 win and was in the sulky with Roll Of Dreams ($4.00), who turned in a 2:00.1 time.
The $6,800 Excelsior 'B' Series went to Milky Way Rae ($4.20), who toured the Buffalo Raceway half-mile oval in 2:00.4 with Bartlett in the bike.
BZ Glide (Morrill Jr.) was victorious in the $10,500 Open Trot in 1:57.2 and returned $2.70 for the win. Morrill Jr. finished the night with four victories.
Country Delight ($4.00) went coast-to-coast in notching a 1:57.3 win in the $9,500 Open Pace for the filly and mares. John Cummings Jr. handled the driving duties.
(Buffalo Raceway)