by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
Hamburg, NY — There are 23 freshman colt and gelding trotters entered in Wednesday night’s (June 27) New York Sire Stakes at Buffalo Raceway and while the boys may be short on experience, their preps for the three divisions worth approximately $37,000 each have been certainly impressive.
The group as a whole has 42 starts in betting and qualifying races leading up to Wednesday night’s action. The boys have earned 16 victories, 10 second place finishes and nine thirds in those attempts with only nine not hitting the board.
Credit Winner and Conway Hall have each sired six entrants, RC Royalty has four, Crazed three, Muscle Mass two, while Chapter Seven and Muscles Yankee have one apiece.
The first division will go off as the second race with Pushthebuttonmax (Muscle Mass-Julieannie) tabbed the 3-1 morning line favorite from the five post with John Stark Jr. in the bike. On June 21, Pushthebuttonmax had a good third place finish in a conditioned event at Saratoga, losing by just 1-1/4 lengths to Broken Tale in 2:00. He also had a win in a qualifier at Saratoga on June 16.
The main threat could come from Certify (Credit Winner-Good Intentions) who drew the four post for driver Claude Huckabone Jr. In a conditioned race at Saratoga on June 21, he jumped off stride and spotted the field 16-3/4 lengths before regrouping and finishing third, just 2-1/4 lengths back.
The remainder of the field will include The Butler Did It (Anthony MacDonald), Sure Hit (Kyle Husted), Thunder (Jason Bartlett), Rx For Success (Scott Zeron) and Charlieman (Dan Daley).
Horns For Three (Credit Winner-Swoosh Hanover) leads the field in the second bracket as he’s the 5-2 choice for driver Kevin Cummings out of the six hole. Coming in from Hoosier Park, Horns For Three has been lights out in his two qualifiers, winning both. His first attempt came on June 9 where he won by 1-3/4 lengths in 2:00.4 and he followed that up with an 11-1/4 length victory in 1:58.3.
Jake G’s Champion arrives from Vernon Downs with a pair of non-betting scores. Last time out on June 15, Jake G’s Champion (RC Royalty-Super Starlet) rolled to a 2-1/4 length win in 1:59. He’ll get the four post with Scott Zeron in the bike.
The rest of the entrants include Leap Year Lucky (Dan Daley), Okay (Claude Huckabone Jr.), Rap Sheet (Kyle Husted), Crazyforlovinyou (Jim Morrill Jr.), Barn Beast (Mike Caprio) and The Chutzpah Kid (Chuck Connor Jr.).
Chip Chip Conway (Conway Hall-Get Chipped) drew the rail in the last division and was installed as the 3-1 top pick with Jim Morrill Jr. to drive. He’s been solid thus far, winning his qualifier at Pocono by two lengths in 2:00 then romping away to a 5-1/4 length score in a maiden race at Tioga Downs on June 16 in 1:59.
Whimzical Chapter (Chapter Seven-Whimzical Britt) may be the main contender from the five post with Dan Daley in the sulky. In his lone qualifier back on June 8 at Vernon Downs, Whimzical Chapter went gate-to-wire in 2:00.1 to register a 5-1/4 length triumph.
Others in the race include Sanchez Rocks (Drew Monti), Our White Knight (Jason Bartlett), Xcuseme (John Stark Jr.,) Jnr Express (John MacDonald), Travel Winner (Trevor Henry) and Simple Kaos (Scott Zeron).
Racing will begin at 5 p.m. with events in the Excelsior A and B series also on the 11-race program. There’s an $845 carryover in the Pick-5 which begins in the second race.
For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, simulcast schedule, race replays, results and entries, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.