by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — Buffalo Raceway’s 13-race program Wednesday evening (July 2) could be like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get until you taste them.

The same could be said about the 2-year-old colt pacers entered in the New York Sires Stakes and Excelsior A Series. A total of 40 inexperienced colt pacers are set to participate with 32 getting their first taste of their young careers. For some, this will be the start of their sweet careers.

While there are 91 ‘lines’ in the program on the entrants, 83 of them are qualifiers. There are just eight pari-mutuel starts amongst the group and combined lifetime earnings of $9,051.

There will be three $37,266 divisions of the Sire Stakes and two legs of the Excelsior A series worth $12,600 apiece. There is also a non-betting $6,600 division of the Excelsior Series B that will go off before the start of the 5 p.m. card.

They’ll also be gunning for the track record at Buffalo Raceway for the 2-year-old colts of 1:55.4, set last season by He’s Watching.

The 40 colts and geldings involved in the regular card have been sired by either Art Major (12), American Ideal (seven), Rock N Roll Heaven (six), Bettor’s Delight (six) If I Can Dream (four), Kenneth J (three) and Artiscape (two).

In the first division, set for the third race, Cartoon Daddy paced the mile in a qualifier at Gaitway Farm in New Jersey in 1:55 on June 16 and has been installed as the 5-2 choice with Jim Morrill Jr. in the bike. They will begin from the seven post. Morrill is fresh off a five-win afternoon Sunday at Buffalo and is currently the leading driver on the Sire Stakes circuit.

K Ryan Bluechip went 1:54.2 in a qualifier at Pocono Downs on June 20. He’ll start from the five post with Joe Pavia Jr. in the sulky as the 3-1 second pick.

Ardie B Speed, who will start from the two post for Jeff Gregory, turned in an eye-popping 19-1/2 length qualifying win on June 20 at Vernon Downs in 1:56.3 and could be a force to be aware of.

In the second division, the Ron Burke-trained K-Rock (Morrill) could be very good starting from the two post after going a 1:55.1 qualifier on June 16 at Gaitway Farm. He’s the 5-2 morning line selection.

His main threat could come from Old Man Cleary (Brent Holland) who had a 1:56 time over the Gaitway Farm track on June 23.

The third and final leg goes off in the seventh race with Play The Field (Morrill) the early 3-1 favorite. They’ll be starting from the two post. Play The Field went a 1:57 mile at Gaitway Farm on June 16 and should get a perfect trip.

Startznheaven gets local drover Ray Fisher Jr. and they’ll score from the rail. Starznheaven had a 1:57 mile at Gaitway on June 23.

The Excelsior A series races will be contested in the second and sixth.

For more information, including upcoming promotions, race replays, news and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.