Hamburg, NY --- There's another bull's-eye on a Buffalo Raceway track record on Wednesday night (July 9) when the New York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters take dead aim at the 2:01.2 mark set by Timothy Patrick (2012) and The Lindy Treaty (2013).
With this classification's time either broke or tied the past two seasons, a new mark could easily be established. There's been a total of five standards either tied or broken at Buffalo Raceway this season. There's a total of 30 talented freshman trotters that are entered in the four $27,250 divisions, all ready to take their best shot. For most, this will be their first 'real' start.
Lucky Chucky has sired eight of the entrants while Conway Hall is next with seven, RC Royalty-six, Crazed-five, Credit Winner- three and Cash Hall-one.
The first division will go off as the second race with Royal Conway (RC Royalty-Miss Conway) scoring from the two post as the 5-2 favorite with Gates Brunet in the sulky. Royal Conway registered a 1:58.2 qualifier at Vernon Downs on June 27.
The main threat could come from Lucky Ten K (Lucky Chucky-Promising Deal) who gets the services of Chris Lems out of the six spot. Lucky Ten K has a 2:00 and a 2:00.3 qualifier under his belt at Vernon and is the 3-1 second choice.
In the second division, set as the third race, Azucar (Crazed-Lindy Loves Candy) has a pari-mutuel win already after scoring a two length victory at Vernon Downs in 1:58.1. He'll start from the six post for Brunet and open at 3-1 odds.
The morning line favorite, however, is Wings Of Royalty (RC Royalty-Sparkling Cider) at 5-2. He gets the seven post for Lems. Wings Of Royalty opened with a 2:02.2 qualifier, then sprung a 1:59.1 time over the Vernon Downs surface.
It could be a battle from the inside posts in the third leg, scheduled as the fifth race. Drinksforthehouse (Conway Hall-Pacific Photo) gets the garden spot and Lems. He enters as the 5-2 morning line choice thanks to a 1:58.4 qualifier at Vernon Downs.
He'll be challenged from the inside by Four Buck Chuck (Lucky Chucky-Bama Hall) who has Doug McNair in the bike. Four Buck Chuck has a 2:03.4 clocking in a qualifier over the seven-eighths-mile Mohawk track. He's listed at 3-1.
Habitat (Conway Hall-Habit's Best) has been sensational over Gaitway Farm's mile track, producing times of 1:58.1 and 1:59.4, winning his two qualifiers by a combined 33 lengths. He'll have Jim Morrill Jr. at the controls and is the 5-2 morning line selection in the final event.
Mambo Blue Chip (Lucky Chucky-Flirty Two) arrives from the Meadowlands with miles of 2:01 and 2:03. He'll begin out of the four post at 3-1 for Jeff Gregory.
While Morrill is listed on just one favorite in the four Sires Stakes races, be very aware of him. He's been in 40 races thus far in the Sire Stakes with 15 victories. He's been in the money another 14 times and his mounts have earned $463,493, far and away the best among all drivers.
Looking at his Excelsior Series statistics, Morrill has been in 64