Déjà vu. That is what Vivians Dream is hoping for when she kicks off her three-year-old campaign on Wednesday afternoon (May 31) in the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) at Buffalo Raceway.
The talented three-year-old filly pacers will take center stage and will battle in two divisions for $115,100 in purse money.
Last season in her first career start, it was quite the beginning for Vivians Dream. She collected the victory in her debut that was a $26,750 paycheque in the New York Sire Stakes and she also broke the Buffalo Raceway record for two-year-old filly pacers with a 1:54.4 time, shattering the old mark of 1:55.2. That initial start was just a preamble of what was going to happen the rest of the season.
Vivians Dream ended the season with $439,770 in earnings, thanks to seven victories in 13 tries. Four of them came in New York Sire Stakes events at Buffalo, Vernon Downs, Batavia Downs and Monticello Raceway. Her triumph at Vernon was in a seasonal best of 1:50.4.
After her New York Sire Stakes tour, Vivians Dream hit the Grand Circuit where she picked up a decision in the $156,500 Matron Stakes at Dover Downs in 1:52.3 and took a solid second place in the $428,400 Three Diamonds at The Meadowlands to close out the 2022 season.
But on Wednesday afternoon at Buffalo Raceway in the seventh race, Vivians Dream begins the three-year-old chapter of her career as she faces four others in the $57,000 race. If qualifiers are any indication of her readiness -- the 6-3/4-length win at Harrington Raceway in 1:53.3 on May 24 -- she will be ready to go.
Jim Morrill Jr., Buffalo Raceway's leading driver, will steer Vivians Dream (American Ideal-Sports Chip), who was installed as the 8-5 morning line choice from the two-hole. She is trained by Kevin Lare for owner Forrest Bartlett.
Others looking to spoil Vivians Dream's seasonal debut include Dame (Marcus Miller), Windsun Tiara (Kevin Cummings), Flippin Awesome (Joseph Chindano Jr.) and Kissin Joe (Hennessey).
The main threat could come from Dame, who earned $193,452 last season with four wins in just 10 starts. She closed the season with a victory in the $125,000 Massachusetts Sires Stakes at Plainridge Park in 1:54.3.
The first division is worth $58,100 and will go off as the fifth event on the 13-race program. The favourite is Rock My Socks (Wally Hennessey), who comes to town off a couple of nice prep race victories at Tioga Downs earlier in May. She won a $7,000 race there in 1:54.3 then took a four-length score in 1:52.2 on May 20 in her last outing. Rock My Socks, carrying the 5-2 morning line tag, earned $102,831 last season and finished third in the NYSS finale. She also won the $37,900 Reynolds Stakes at Tioga Downs to end the year.
The remainder of the field includes Bama Breeze (Chindano Jr.), B On The Hunt (Kevin Cummings), American Starlight (Michael Whelan), High Fashion Star (Morrill Jr.) and Turn On The Charm (Miller).
The Buffalo Raceway track record for three-year-old filly pacers is 1:52.2 set on May 26, 2022 as Gotthegreenlight set the standard with driver Jason Bartlett. With perfect weather conditions expected, a new mark could be established.
The 13-race program will also have a $20,000 Excelsior Series race, which goes in the first. Post time is 2:30 p.m. There is also a $2,226 carryover in the Pick 5, which begins in the second race.
(Buffalo Raceway)