by M. Kelly Young, Executive Assistant, Harness Horse Breeders of New York

Hamburg, NY — When Buffalo Raceway kicks off the start of the New York Sires Stakes season on Saturday, June 18, all eyes will be on last year’s returning rivals: Dear Old Boy and Pat’s All Star. These two were neck and neck on the circuit last summer and each had a nearly perfect season, with both finishing second only twice — to each other.

This first leg of Sires Stake action for three-year-old pacing colts carries purses totaling $135,502 and was split into two divisions. The 2004 champion, Dear Old Boy, will start from post two in the fourth race, and last year’s runner-up Pat’s All Star starts from post seven in race six.

Pat’s All Star began his season racing against top-class horses in the Berry’s Creek at the Meadowlands. He finished second, timed in a very fast 1:51, for owner Pat Tarsio. Already he has $62,620 in earnings after just two starts.

Dear Old Boy, however, had a very different start to his sophomore campaign and will have to prove his mettle on Saturday to keep up with his adversary.

“I think he’s ready now,” said the gelding’s trainer and driver Gates Brunet. “He raced good at Saratoga last time (June 11) and he finally got the race he needed.”

Before that overnight event, Dear Old Boy’s year started with a broken knee boot while qualifying at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario and then a tough trip over a messy track in Montreal. When he headed to Woodbine Racetrack near Toronto for a stakes race, the gelding broke stride early and took himself out of contention.

“In the Burlington Stakes, George (driver George Brennan) liked the horse and fired out of the gate, just left the rest of the field standing there, and I think the horse just made a speed break,” explained Brunet. “He was getting ready to be in front by the eighth-pole when he made the break.

“He has been pretty lucky overall,” added Brunet, who co-owns the son of Village Jove with Ted Gewertz. “He always draws well when it counts and it obviously counts when you’re going for $68,000.”

Brunet will also start Eyes On Kassa on Saturday night, a horse who finished third in last year’s Sires Stake Championship and was recently moved into his barn.

Another horse to look out for is Four One One, a homebred for Matt Meinzinger who is coming back from a break following an early spring start at the Meadowlands. Trainer Chris Ryder sends him to Buffalo with $20,900 on his card and a 1:53 mark. He will start from post seven in race four.

Post time at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night is 7:35 p.m. New York Sires Stake action will continue with the three-year-old pacing fillies on Sunday afternoon.