In the sixth of eight New York Sire Stakes visits for 2014, three divisions of first-year female pacers go postward Wednesday night (August 27) at Batavia Downs in pursuit of $106,901 in purses. Race 1, 4 and 8 will feature the best distaff side-wheelers bred in the state.
The track record of 1:54.4 set by Barefoot Beauty in 2013 definitely has a target on it, as many of the entrants are more than capable of a similar mile and will be taking a big shot.
In the first race, Mosquito Blue Chip (Bettors Delight-Sandfly Hanover) is coming off three sharp efforts, and most recently got her first lifetime win in 1:55 at Yonkers Raceway last week. She hasn’t missed a purse cheque all year and that has made her the top money winner in the race with $83,718. The Paul Jessop-trained filly will be driven by Jim Morrill Jr.
The royally-bred My Little Delight (Bettors Delight-My Little Dragon) scored a lifetime mark at Vernon Downs two starts back in 1:52.3 and came up just a head short to Mosquito Blue Chip last week. Mark MacDonald gets the nod from trainer Noel Daley for the third straight week and MacDonald has been on fire in each of his Batavia visits this year. The outside post in the short field should have no effect on the talented two-year-old.
Pop The Tags (Bettors Delight-Breathe) steps back up to NYSS action after winning three in a row in Excelsior action. She has one start in the top series this year, but with disappointing results. But Pop The Tags looks to be in a good spot Wednesday to utilize her front-stepping speed for driver Brent Holland, who was at the lines in her last three efforts for trainer Erv Miller.
The fourth race features the heavy 2-5 early favourite Sassa Hanover (Rock N Roll Heaven-Mango Hanover) from the powerful Ron Burke Stable. After reeling off four consecutive wire-to-wire NYSS wins that includes her lifetime mark of 1:52.2 at Vernon, Sassa Hanover, who is currently second in the point’s standings, came up just a nose short to Mosquito Blue Chip in her last start at Yonkers. Her $108,085 in earnings and four victories for the year surpasses her competitors’ combined totals for each category and she looks to add to those numbers Wednesday. Jim Morrill Jr., who last sat behind her in a 1:56.3 win at Monticello Raceway on July 4, will take the lines from Yannick Gingras this week.
Devil Child (American Ideal-Kattimon) has yet to win a NYSS race, but missed doing so twice this year by a combined total of only one and three-quarters lengths. After scoring an easy win at Vernon in an overnight last week, she may just be brave enough now to track Sassa Hanover from the rail and have the best shot of challenging her in the lane. Jimmy Whittemore is up for trainer Homer Hochstetler.
The third division in the eighth race has another Ron Burke pupil pegged as the 4-5 morning line choice. Bettor N Better (Bettors Delight-Vanite Semalu) has three wins and two seconds in five lifetime starts, all of which were NYSS events. Her lifetime mark is a 1:55 effort at Saratoga, but she just got beat at Vernon in a 1:52.3 clocking over the big track. She seems to thrive on the front end, and she seems to be set up for success from the rail with Jim Morrill Jr. on Wednesday.
Our Hot Majorette (Art Major-Shes So Hot) raced off a two-week layoff last week at Yonkers and managed to show well. But to see what this filly is really capable of, you must look at her effort on July 22, which also came at Yonkers. She followed the top New York two-year-old filly Band Of Angels and just missed winning. She finished second, beaten only half a length in 1:54.4, with a last quarter in :26.4. If she is able to regain that form Wednesday, the favourite could be beaten. Mike Saftic makes a very rare Batavia Downs appearance on the call from trainer Eric Adams.
There are also three divisions of the Excelsior series on the card which will be raced for a total of $38,000. They are programmed as Race 7, 9 and 10.
Post time for Batavia Downs Wednesday night races is 6:35 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)