by Brian Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — For driver/trainer Ake Svanstedt, things just kept getting better and better for him as the afternoon went along on Sunday (June 17) at Buffalo Raceway as he won three times in the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for the 3-year-old filly trotters with the four divisions carrying a purse of approximately $30,000 a piece.

Steve Roth photo

Lucky Ava, defending 2-year-old NYSS champion, wins againwith a 1:57.1.

It was a perfect progression as well for Svanstedt as each time one of his charges won, they set a new track record in doing so.

In the opener, Ciao Dolce broke the old track standard for the 3-year-old filly trotters of 1:58.2 held by Fad Finance, Straight A Student and High Rise with three-quarter length decision over Sevenbuyeleven in 1:57.3.

That barrier last about 15 minutes as defending 2-year-old NYSS filly trotting champion Lucky Ava posted a 1-1/4 length victory over Girl Talk in 1:57.2.

After having to settle for a second place finish in the next NYSS event with Natalie Hanover, Svanstedt saved the best for last as Fury Road took her leg with a 1:57 tour around the lightning fast Buffalo Raceway half-mile oval, topping White Cheetah by three-quarters of a length.

When asked about his success at Buffalo Raceway, Svanstedt, who has won six of 10 races in the past two seasons said, “It helps when you have good horses,” he went on to explain, “I seem to have horses that can takes the turns here so I am not afraid to go hard into them.”

Ciao Bella ($3.80) took the opening bracket with a big move heading to the third-quarter marker. She was able to wear down the fraction-setting Somebuyeleven (Scott Zeron) in the stretch to score the win. Firm To Stay (Jim Morrill Jr.) was third.

She really picked it up down the backstretch,” Svanstedt said of Ciao Bella’s effort.

Owned by Kjelle Magne, it was the second win in five starts in 2018 for Ciao Bella (Credit Winner-Pizza Dolce).

The ink hadn’t even dried in the record book when Lucky Ava put her name into it.

Setting fractions of :30, 1:00.0 and 1:29.1, Lucky Ava ($2.10) had to work extremely hard to hold back a determined Girl Talk (Drew Monti) in the lane. Haulin Banc (Zeron) took the show spot.

“I was a little surprised at how she had go in the end but she’s a good horse,” Svanstedt said of Lucky Ava.

Co-owned by Svanstedt, Little E LLC and the Van Camp Trotting Corp., it was the fourth victory in five attempts this year for Lucky Ava (Lucky Chucky-Ava Marion). The score pushed her seasonal bankroll to $65,693 and $269,189 in her brief stellar career.

Fury Road ($6.80) was the fastest of the distaffer sophomore trotters as she was able to wire the field in 1:57.0. White Cheetah (Morrill Jr.) put in a game effort to place second while Tribute To Seven (Zeron) took the show position.

“She did what she had to do,” Svanstedt said of Fury Road’s record breaking performance.

Owned by Knutsson Trotting Inc., the victory was the second in five appearances in 2018 for Fury Road (Muscle Mass-Bar Ballad). The win upped her seasonal earnings to $44,932 this season and $189,423 in her career.

When told that was the third track record he had on the afternoon with his trainees and Fury Road, Svanstedt shrugged his shoulders and said, “Wow.”

The only race in the NYSS not won by Svanstedt was earned by Lima Novelty (Zeron) in a 1:57.3.

It was a heads-up move by Zeron going to the opening marker that paved the way for Lima Novelty’s triumph.

When things settled down after the start, Natalie Hanover (Svanstedt) looked like she was going to control the fractions but that wasn’t the case a few seconds later.

“We didn’t want to be behind Natalie Hanover (Svanstedt). We wanted the top,” said Zeron of playing the give-and go with Lima Novelty ($4.00).

The decision worked about great as Lima Novelty held back the challenge of Natalie Hanover by 1-1/4 lengths while Jackie Newlands (Morrill) was third.

Trained by Linda Toscano and owned by Ken Jacobs, Lima Novelty (Chapter Seven-No Pictures Please) found the winner’s circle for the first time in four attempts this season. The victory upped her seasonal earnings to $21,847 and $116,635 lifetime.

In the $15,000 Excelsior A races, A Gift For You ($4.10) was the quickest with a 1:58.0 clocking for Zeron. Michando ($7.50) took her bracket for Marcus Miller in 1:58.3 while Kevin Cummings guided Eunice to a stunning $62.00 victory in 1:58.2.

The two $6,500 Excelsior B events went to Financial Impact as Monti steered her home in 2:02.2 while Shawn McDonough notched a popular $2.50 victory with Chasing Stardom in 2:02.0.

Racing will resume on Wednesday night at Buffalo Raceway with an 11-race program scheduled for 5 p.m. with the 2-year-old filly pacers arriving to battle it out in two divisions worth $52,500 each.

For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, simulcast schedule, race replays, results and entries, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.