By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
A total of $105,000 is up for grabs with only 10 entrants on hand to compete for it in two divisions as the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 2-year-old pacing fillies rolls into Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 1).
The NYSS events are carded as race one and seven with post time for the first race at 5 p.m.
So Awesome (So Surreal-Teddy Ballgirl) will lead the way in the first $52,500, five-horse division and has some impressive early career stats to back her. She has two lifetime wins in four lifetime starts and both were in NYSS action. Oddly enough they were both scored at Yonkers Raceway and both timed in 1:55.3.
As a result of her work, So Awesome has put $70,365 on her card thus far making her the richest, fastest and winningest filly entered here. So Awesome also ranks second in points and earnings in her age, gait and gender group overall in the state-bred series.
So Awesome is trained by Scott Di Domenico and will be leaving from post two with driver Jim Morrill Jr.
JK American Beauty (American Ideal-JK Black Beauty) has yet to win a NYSS race, but she hasn't been off the board either. With a second and two thirds to her credit, she has continued to learn each week while finishing well in all her starts. The filly is almost certain to get another good trip here from inside and could break her maiden if things go right.
JK American Beauty will be driven from post one by Daniel Dube for trainer Nancy Johansson.
Looking to get back on track in the second $52,500 five-horse split is Brooklyn Lilacs (Rock n Roll Heaven-Sombodythatiustono) who won her first two NYSS events, but got disqualified in the second after pacing erratically at the three-quarters. She had over two weeks off after that race and then qualified impressively at Harrah's Philadelphia in 1:56.1 by eight lengths. This will be her first start back since that outing and her current form appears to bode well for her chances in this race.
Trainer Joe Holloway has Jim Morrill Jr. back in the bike for Brooklyn Lilacs third NYSS start and they will start from post three.
Hurrikane Norakane (Art Major-Western Heat) appears to be the formidable foe. After getting her first NYSS win through the disqualification of Brooklyn Lilacs three starts back, she experienced a very rough trip at Tioga Downs the next week getting parked-out the better part of the mile. But she bounced back well in her last start which was back at Yonkers where she finished a strong second to top point-getter St. Somewhere in 1:53.4. Now finding herself right back in a week later in a short field, Hurrikane Norakane looks to put herself in the spotlight.
Hurrikane Norakane has post one for driver Daniel Dube and trainer John Mc Dermott.
There are also two $15,000 divisions of the Excel “A” series on the card.
