by Brian J. Mazurek, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — There are three splits of the New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters on Saturday night (Sept. 21) at Batavia Downs and on paper all the divisions seem to have a different flavor to them which should make for some intriguing racing.

Besides battling for $42,000 in each leg, they’ll all be chasing the Batavia Downs track record for 3-year-old filly trotters of 1:57.2, set by Cowgirl Hall in 2012. On Wednesday night, the Batavia Downs surface was lightning fast as the track record for 2-year-old pacing fillies was broken and the all-age time for mare pacers was tied. With good weather, it could be in serious jeopardy this Saturday.

The opening division appears to have a solid favorite in Lola De Vie, the second division looks to be a much anticipated match-up between local favorite Barn Babe and the red-hot Bouncing Bax, while the final leg has a six-horse field with all but one having at least two victories and any of which are capable of pulling off a win. With that said, races aren’t run on paper.

The first race on the 13-race program is the opening division of the Sire Stakes and Lola De Vie will open as the 2-1 morning line favorite from the three spot with Jim Morrill, Jr. in the sulky. She has earned $327,224 this season with seven victories in 12 starts.

Lola De Vie (Credit Winner-Fan Favourite) had a break in her last appearance on Sept. 5 at Yonkers Raceway in Sire Stakes action and looks to rebound from her disappointing fourth place finish. She’ll be battling five other fillies who have a combined bankroll of $244,846 in 2013 and eight victories in 52 starts.

The main threat could come from Bostonz Credit (Credit Winner-Pleasecometoboston) who is fresh off a 1:59.2 win at Yonkers on Sept. 5. She used a late drive to score a neck decision over Wygant Lady. Brett Miller will steer Bostonz Credit, a winner of $77,009 this season.

Local favorite Barn Babe, owned by Steven and Nancy Pratt of nearby Corfu, N.Y., looks to improve on her already impressive credentials in the second division which will go off as the fourth race. She’s won $173,662 in 2013 and $320,236 lifetime and just posted a three length win in 1:59.4 at Yonkers in Sire Stakes competition on Sept. 5. John Cummings will be in the sulky and score Barn Babe (Cash Hall-My Baby’s Momma) out of the six hole as the 3-1 second choice.

The favorite, however, is the ever-improving Bouncing Bax (Credit Winner-Bax Machine) who arrives on a three-race win streak including a 4-3/4 length victory in 1:57.3 at Yonkers on Sept. 5. She has a half-length win over Barn Babe under her belt at Saratoga Raceway on Aug. 29 in 1:58.1. Morrill will drive the 2-1 favorite who has $234,624 in the bank, with $177,392 coming this season.

The final division is the seventh race and a case could be made for just about all of the entrants.

The two inside fillies in the six-horse field are the favorites. Palm Beach Chic (Conway Hall-Back On Track) gets the rail for driver Marcus Johansson and is the 5-2 choice. It’s a rare starting position for Palm Beach Chic as her last sniff of an inside post was the two hole back on June 23. Since then she’s been relegated to the outside and a start from the pylons could be a huge factor. She has won three times this year in 11 tries and has made $91,942.

Proclaiming April starts next door to Palm Beach Chic and has the services of Morrill. She finished in a hard-fought third place finish, just a neck behind Bostonz Credit, at Yonkers Raceway on Sept. 5. Proclaiming April has two victories and has been in the money four other times, good for $160,114.

The 13-race card, which will also have three $12,800 divisions of the Excelsior Series for 3-year-old filly trotters, along with the $8,500 Open Pace, will begin at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, including upcoming promotions, race replays, news and statistics, go to bataviadownsgaming.com/live-racing.