by Jonathan Cramer, for Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — Buffalo Raceway’s 68th season will come to a close this Sunday, July 25. A pair of New York Sire Stake events close the meet as on Friday the 2-year-old filly pacers are at the Hamburg Oval and on Saturday the 2-year-old colt trotters are in town.

With the Sire Stakes in town and a nice forecast the chance of track records being broken this weekend is likely. Two track records have already fallen this year as 2-year-old Roadside Delight paced in 1:56.3 on July 10 and on June 16 Blacktuxwhitesocks set the mark for 3-year-old colt trotters in 1:58.1.

Friday night features 43 filly pacers in six divisions going for $23,648 or $24,148. In the first division (race 2), local horse Sheza Pacific Barb, bred, trained and driven by Charles Bacon, will try to use the home track advantage over Bullville Monarch, One Night and City Delight.

Trainer Mark Ford will send out Eagle Kelly, a SUNY Morrisville purchase, in the fourth race. Also entered in the race are Western Kerry, trained by Ray Van Dreason, You’re Too Funny from Ray Schnittker’s barn and JK Owhatanite, conditioned by Nifty Norman.

The second half of the double, race 5, is another division of Sire Stakes. Miss Annie J, who won her division at Tioga on July 9, will have a long trip starting from the far outside. Starting in the six hole is Art Major filly Song In A Major for trainer Linda Toscano. OK Dynasty, another Art Major offspring, will start from the second post position. Duel Cheeks, an $80,000 Harrisburg purchase, will try to use the post position draw to her advantage, starting from post one.

My Girl’s A Star should be a heavy favorite in the fourth division (race 7) for trainer Ray Schnittker. She has been perfect against quality competition, having a five length win at Tioga two weeks ago in NYSS action and taking the Debutante Stakes at the Meadowlands. Grounded, trained by Frank Calcagni, will try to bring My Girl’s A Star back to earth, along with a quintet of Harrisburg graduates.

The eighth race is a very competitive division, headed by American Bandita with driver Kevin Cummings, No Faultz with Jack Flanigen in the sulky, Jim Morrill guiding Temptation Queen, and Ray Fisher aboard JK Geronimo.

The final division has four daughters of American Ideal including Diana Blue Chip for trainer Ray Van Dreason, Cinder Angelina trained by Linda Toscano, Crazy Luv Bug trained by George Teague, Jr. and Excited Ideal trained by Jim Graham.

A total of 13 daughters of Art Major are entered along with a dozen from American Ideal and 11 Bettor’s Delight offspring.