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

HAMBURG, N.Y.–Donna’s Girl faced her toughest challenge this year when the 3-year-old pacing filly pulled off her tightest victory yet in New York Sire Stakes action at Buffalo Raceway on Friday, July 30. Directed by Howard Okusko Jr., Donna’s Girl set all the fractions but survived a late charge by pocketsitter Cherry Cherry by just a nose in 1:57.2.

Cherry Cherry, handled by Jamie Dunlap, turned in a :28.1 last quarter to nearly nab the current division leader. Donna’s Girl, a daughter of Village Jove, is trained by Howard Okusko Sr. for his wife, Carol, and Claude Incaudo.

Okusko Jr. also turned in a 1:59.3 victory with his own Dark Surprize. That Easter Sun Hanna filly charged down the stretch to beat David’s Art by 6 ¼ lengths at 28-1 odds. She is owned by Okusko’s clock Farm LLC and Thomas Witt.

Miss Zinfandel, the even-money favorite in that race, broke early and finished well behind the leaders for trainer-driver John Stark Jr.

Also scoring in their divisions were Three Bee’s, a daughter of Three Wizzards owned by Pamela and John Dutchick, in 1:59; and Caroles Magic Gift, a homebred Magical Mike filly for Robert Gifford, who won in 1:58.

All four Sire Stakes splits raced for purses of more than $31,000.

Four NY Sire Stakes divisions to race Tuesday at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway

The last time Connors Blue Chip raced, the gang of owners that lay claim to him donned personalized baseball caps bearing the colt’s name and proudly showed off their lucky charm—mismatched shoes. Wearing one black and one brown loafer seemed to do the trick, with the son of Sir Taurus trotting home an easy 2:04 victor.

That luck will be tried again, however, when Connors Blue Chip starts in one of four $14,856 Sire Stakes divisions at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on Tuesday, Aug. 3.

The 2 year old is trained by the Ray Schnittker Stable for East My Dust Stable (Frank Baldassare and Schnittker), Stephen Demeter, Kindergarten Stud (Bill, Lydia and Jean Brown) and Dr. Herb Burns.

“I’ve owned a lot of good horses, but this horse is the most fun I’ve ever had,” revealed Baldassare after the Monticello victory.

That fun may be due to the horse, or may be due to the ownership team, all long-time friends and partners.

“His gait stood out from day one,” explained Burns, who serves as the veterinarian at Blue Chip Farms, where the colt was raised and where Burns had the opportunity to care for the colt before purchasing him at auction with his partners.

Connors Blue Chip is the last foal out of Dan Gernatt’s very successful broodmare Amanda T Collins. Her richest offspring was Vernon Blue Chip, a filly winner of $540,000, including victories in the Merrie Annabelle at age two and the New York Sire Stakes championship at age three.

Despite Connors’ pedigree and enthusiastic ownership team, he must still conquer seven others in his field to bring home his third win in four starts. Among those that will challenge is Prime Rate, who must clean the slate after breaking stride in his Sire Stakes event at Monticello, though he did still manage to finish second. He will be directed by Meadowlands regular George Brennan. Also, Big Zach Attack, a winner of four of his five career starts with trainer-driver Scott Campbell, will try to move from the county fair winner’s circle to the pari-mutuel one.

Victory Speech, the track record setter at Monticello Raceway his last time out, will likely go off as the overwhelming favorite in the seventh race. Driver Jeff Gregory, who accompanied the colt in his record-breaking 2:02 mile, will again be up.

The homebred Getthemoney will try to continue bringing home the dough for owner Peter Sienkwicz in the ninth race. Terry Finch will drive the Credit Winner colt who wired the field in his Sire Stakes at Monticello.

The Sire Stakes are carded as races three, six, seven, nine and 11 on the 15-race program. A special early 6:40 p.m. post will accommodate a non-betting Saratoga Amateur Driving Club event, with the regular card beginning at 7:10 p.m.