Valentine Express ($7.40) hopped aboard the ‘express’ in Buffalo Raceway $16,000 Open Trot on Friday afternoon (July 18) as he equaled the track record for aged (5+) gelded trotters with a three-length victory over Makes Me Charlie in 1:56.0 over the lightning-fast track. He tied the current mark of 1:56.0 set by Fox Valley Veto (Billy Davis Jr.) on July 20, 2018.

On Sunday (July 20), The Red Mile kicks off the historic red clay oval’s 150th season of operation under the lights with eight $50,000 Kentucky Proud Finals for freshman and sophomores of both gaits on a 10-race card.

There was no sophomore trotting filly adding a second Pennsylvania Sire Stakes credit to her resume when two divisions of the third preliminary round were raced at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday afternoon (July 180; in fact, both winners had most recently competed in the Stallion Series division of the Pennsylvania program.

Freshman male pacers get their 2025 Buckeye Stallion Series schedule underway with the opening leg on Saturday (July 19) at MGM Northfield Park.

On Monday (July 21) the New York Sire Stakes roll into town with 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings taking center stage.

Breakfast With The Babies, sponsored by Fashion Farms, got underway at 9 a.m. on a pleasant summer morning at The Meadowlands. The temperature was 75f and the track fast with a considerable stretch headwind slowing the final quarters.

The Thursday night (July 17) harness racing program at Running Aces featured the weekly $14,750 Mares Open Handicap pace, with a well-matched field of nine going into battle.