by Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY—The New York Sire Stakes 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings come to Batavia Downs on Sunday (Aug. 7) to compete for $119,300 in purses with trainer Tracy Brainard and driver Jim Morrill Jr. being heavily favored in both divisions. Given this team’s track record at the Downs, the competition will have to be on their toes.

In the first $59,100 division, Roll Away Joe (Roll With Joe-Chatelaine) is on a streak right now, winning his last three NYSS outings and banking $142,989 so far this year. In his last start at Saratoga Raceway, he went wire-to-wire in the fastest division and took a new lifetime mark of 1:51.4 for his effort in the two-length victory. He is also the NYSS point’s leader and top money earner so far in 2016 for his age, sex and gait.

Roll Away Joe is the morning line favorite at 8-5 from post five and trainer Tracy Brainard has Jim Morrill Jr. in the bike.

Stolen Glimpse (Art Major-Jated Love) had been racing primarily at the Meadowlands until July when he started his stake engagements. After finishing fourth in his only NYSS appearance to date, Stolen Glimpse just missed qualifying for the $400,000 Adios Pace final at the Meadows when he finished fifth, beaten only five lengths in 1:49.1

Starting from post one at 5-2, trainer Ron Burke has assigned Matt Kakaley to drive for the third consecutive time.

In the second $60,200 division, Talk Show (Art Major-Lush Limbaugh) has two starts in NYSS action this year, scoring a win in 1:53.3 at Monticello Raceway in June and finishing last after a break at Saratoga in his most recent outing. However, just prior to that he faced off against Control The Moment and Racing Hill in the $730,000 Meadowlands Pace. Unfortunately, he started from post 10 and finished eighth in the 1:48.2 mile.

Making his first start for trainer Tracy Brainard, Talk Show drew post one and is the 2-1 morning line favorite with Jim Morrill Jr. aboard.

Coupled in the betting with Talk Show is Ideal Son (American Ideal-Sunduel A). Unlike the rest of this field, Ideal Son was unraced at two and now only has 12 lifetime starts; in 10 of which he hit the board. This three-time winner captured his first NYSS victory in his last outing when he went coast-to-coast in 1:54.4 at Saratoga.

Trainer Tom Fanning starts Ideal Son from post four with Tyler Buter in the bike and he is also listed at 2-1.

Artmagic (Art Major-Sammy’s Magic Girl) has been the picture of consistency this year, hitting the board six of seven starts. His lone win was in NYSS action at Yonkers Raceway where he went in 1:55.1, but he did compete in the $300,000 Art Rooney Pace in May and finished fourth to Missile J. In his two most recent starts he was up against Roll Away Joe and finished second and third, but he doesn’t have to worry about either of them today.

Billy Dobson was assigned to drive by trainer Trond Smedshammer and will leave from post five at 5-2.

Fine Diamond (Rock N Roll Heaven-Yellow Diamond) is the highest money-winning horse in this race with $124,052 to his credit. He is a four-time winner and is nine out of 10 in the money for the year. He has a lifetime mark of 1:53.3 at Yonkers and has exhibited the ability to race either on the front or from behind.

Matt Kakaley gets the nod in the bike once again from trainer Ron Burke and will leave from post seven at 3-1.

Aside from the main events, there are two divisions of the Excelsior A Series on the card, each going for $15,000.

Sunday is also the return of the wildly popular “Old Fashioned Day” at Batavia Downs. You can treat the whole family to 50-cent Sahlen’s hot dogs, draft beer and soft drinks from 12 noon to 4 p.m. while you watch the best harness racing action in western New York.

Post time for the first race is 1:15 p.m.