(Photo of Cruising In Style, courtesy of Geri Schwarz.)
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
The sixth of eight stops by the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) at Batavia Downs this year occurs on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 29) when 10 top Empire State-bred 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings will compete in two divisions for the $116,000 of prize money available for distribution.
The NYSS events go as race one and seven. There are also two Excelsior “A” contests that go in race two and five. Post time for the first race is 5 p.m.
The first $58,000 division is a wide open affair with little separating the field.
Cruising In Style (Muscle Mass-Sos Respect) has yet to win a NYSS race but has raced well in other events this year. He has a win at Yonkers in 1:55.1 (which is his lifetime mark) in June and finished a respectable fourth at the Meadowlands in the $50,000 Drazin Stake on Hambo day in 1:51.4 after cutting the mile. He is the top money winner in this division and should be able to leave in here, should they so desire.
Jim Morrill Jr. is up for the second straight start for trainer Andrew Harris and has been made the morning line favorite at 2-1 from post five.
Clive Bigsby (Muscle Mass-Northern Flare) finally draws inside after eight straight weeks of outside posts, On The Ropes (Chapter Seven-Rs Giggles) looks to improve off three straight third place finishes in NYSS action and Voss Volo (Credit Winner-Silver Springs) has the fastest seasonal mark of these but looks to get back the consistency he displayed earlier this year.
The second $58,000 split has I’m The Muscle (Muscle Mass-Lady Bling) listed as the 9-5 favorite and he comes in streaking.
I’m The Muscle started the year racing overnights at Rideau Carlton before transferring to the stable of Rene Allard in mid-July. Since then he has won four straight races including two Excel “A” events before taking a lifetime mark of 1:55.2 at Yonkers in his last outing. However this will be the first time this gelding has faced the top level NYSS competition, but he still figures to be a formidable foe.
Jason Bartlett is in town to drive and will start from post one.
Don (Credit Winner-Angostura) has earned $116,466 this year on the strength of two NYSS victories but has also finished second in the $133,800 Dexter Cup final and the Empire Breeders Cup consolation. Perlucky (Lucky Chucky-Paper Girl) hasn’t missed a check all year before getting parked out in his last start, fading late and Purpose Blue Chip (Chapter Seven-Munis Blue Chip) has two NYSS wins this year and seems versatile enough to leave or sit.
