Thus far in 2014, two different divisions of the New York Sire Stakes have visited Buffalo Raceway and left town with two track records.
On Friday night, the three-year-old colt and gelding pacers will have their work cut out for them if they want to set a new mark in their division.
The three-year-old mark is also the same as the all-aged time of 1:52.3 set by Steelhead Hanover in 2012. But the way records have been falling at the Hamburg half-mile oval, with a ‘fast’ track and warm weather expected, boys will be boys and anything can happen.
Earlier this season in the NYSS, Sweetnsinful won in 1:54.1 to establish a new mark standard for the three-year-old pacing fillies, while Glowngold notched a 1:59 mile to etch her name in the record book for three-year-old filly trotters.
The first $60,200 division has been carded as Race 5 on Buffalo Raceway's 13-dash program. First-race post time for the card is 6:40 p.m. The race will feature a Ron Burke-trained entry consisting of Forty Five Red (If I Can Dream-Sakura Hanover) and Keystone Honor (Bettors Delight-Heavenly Killean). Forty Five Red won $167,554 last season and finished fifth in an elimination the Art Rooney at Yonkers back on May 24. Keystone Honor (to be driven by Kevin Cummings) has started in three NYSS events this year and has recorded two third-place finishes. The Burke entry has been listed as the 3-1 morning line choice.
Ari Allstar has faced some rugged tests in his career. He was a finalist in the $534,500 Govenor's Cup at the Meadowlands Racetrack in November (finished eighth) and was fourth in the $500,000 Breeders Crown final at Pocono Downs in October. It looks like he's rounding into form for trainer Mark Ford, as he posted a one and a quarter-length victory in a $15,640 conditioned pace on June 16 in 1:53 at Mohawk Racetrack. Mark McDonald is the scheduled driver.
The remainder of the field includes Murder He Wrote (Jeff Gregory), Neat (Brent Holland), Believeinthespirit (Ray Fisher Jr.) and Moliere Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr.)
The second division could be considered the stronger one with the likes of Archetto Hanover, Twin B Speedo and Ideal Cowboy.
Archetto Hanover is trained by Erv Miller and comes in with $157,026 in lifetime earnings, $137,076 of which came in 2013. He posted a 1:53.2 clocking in his last appearance at Yonkers Raceway and will score from the three post for Cummings.
June has been a great month for Twin B Speedo (3-1) with a win at Tioga Downs, a second place at Yonkers and a third at Vernon Downs in NYSS competition. He's been in the money in all six starts in 2014 and has bankrolled $57,172 and $142,433 lifetime. He'll start from the five hole for MacDonald and trainer Mark Ford.
Ideal Cowboy (4-1) is definitely classy with a win on June 19 in the $74,000 NYSS at Yonkers Raceway in 1:52.4. Trained by PJ Fraley, Ideal Cowboy competed in the $1 million North American Cup at Mohawk on June 14, but finished ninth. Jim Morrill Jr. must navigate him from the six post.
The rest of the field includes Im All Heart (Matt Kakaley), Sir Sams Z Tam (Jack Flanigen), Western Conquest (Brent Holland) and El Bloombito (Jeff Gregory).
There will also be two $12,500 Excelsior ‘A’ races for the three-year-old colt and gelding pacers, along with a pair of $6,500 Excelsior ‘B’ races. The $10,500 Open Trot is also featured with local favourite Lutetium returning to battle five other foes.
(Buffalo Raceway)