by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — Obvious Blue Chip and Clear Idea tookadvantage of the long home stretch at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (June21) and rallied with impressive victories in the New York Sire Stakes for the3-year-old filly pacers.

The quickest time of the two divisions each worth over$60,000 went to Obvious Blue Chip who covered the mile in 1:54.4 while ClearIdea won her leg with a 1:55.1. Both were well short of the Buffalo Racewaystandard of 1:53.3 established in 2015 by Mosquito Blue Chip.

Clear Idea rallied late to take a 1:55.1 victory in NYSS at Buffalo Raceway.

It took a great charge in the stretch by Clear Idea (MarkMacDonald) to help post the $12.80 surprise.

Planet Rock (Scott Zeron) set the fractions of 28.0, 56.4and 1:26.0 and appeared home free turning for the finish line. Trailing by3-1/4 lengths, Clear Idea (American Ideal-Glass Maker) uncorked a 28.4 finalpanel to register the come from behind victory. Planet Rock held on for secondwith Ann Hill (Larry Stalbaum) taking the show spot.

MacDonald said, “Clear Idea was real sharp. Afterawaiting the confusion to clear on the final turn, I pulled her out and she dugin to get the win.”

Co-owned by trainer Blake MacIntosh and the Hutt RacingStable, Clear Idea has been in the money in all 10 of her starts this season.With her fourth win of the campaign, Clear Idea has now won $88,501 in 2017 and$102,759 lifetime.

Obvious Blue Chip (Jason Bartlett) didn’t need as big ofrally to get the job done but hit the finish line in impressive fashion.

Sitting fourth with a quarter-mile to pace, Obvious BlueChip ($2.70) tipped three-wide and buried the field in the lane, winning bythree lengths. The pace-setting Studio One (Kevin Cummings) took second andWord Apart (Zeron) finished third.

Bartlett stated of the winning journey, “I let them(Studio One and Artrageous) carry us through the first half-mile and once wegot through the first turn on the second circuit, I cut her loose down the backstretch. She’s a nice filly, really sharp.”

Steve Roth photos

Obvious Blue Chip was the fastest in 1:54.4.

Co-owned by the NLG Racing Stable and Stephen Klunowski,Obvious Blue Chip (Roll With Joe-Put On A Clinic) is trained by Mark Steacy. Itwas the third victory in four starts in 2017 for Obvious Blue, a winner of$58,827 this year and $94,306 lifetime.

Robin J ($3.20) was the fastest in the three $15,000Excelsior A Series races with a 1:54.4 time for driver Scott Zeron.Takeyourbreathaway (MacDonald) lit up the tote board with a $45.80 win in1:56.4 while Bestgirlfriendever ($12.20) tripped the timer in 1:57.1 forBartlett.

In the lone $6,700 Excelsior B Series race, Miss Roll Joe($6.00) got the decision for Jim Morrill Jr. and local trainer Jim Graham in1:58.4.

Morrill Jr. finished the night with a driving triple whileBartlett, MacDonald and Ray Fisher Jr. all doubled.

Racing will resume on Friday night with an 11-race programset for 5 p.m. The action will continue on Saturday with 11 races slated for 6p.m. and on Sunday afternoon beginning at 12:30 p.m. The Sunday matinee willfeature the New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters with Barn Bellascheduled to compete in the fifth race.

For more information including the latest news, upcomingpromotions, race replays and results go to www.buffaloraceway.com.