Freshmen filly pacers at Buffalo on Wednesday
At 0h02, on June 17, 2025 • By Brian J. Mazurek, Buffalo Raceway
A field of nine 2-year-old filly pacers will line up for the first time in their racing careers on Wednesday afternoon (June 18) at Buffalo Raceway with $112,100 on the line in the New York Sire Stakes.
With many having just a qualifier or two under their saddle cloths, one will emerge as the fabulous filly at the end of the day with a nice paycheck of $56,050 awaiting her connections.
It is hard to gauge who will be the one to beat from the qualifiers. The ladies were widespread at Harrah’s Philadelphia, Monticello Raceway, Mohegan Pennsylvania’s Pocono Downs, Woodbine Mohawk Park, and Saratoga in their prep qualifiers.
Last week, driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Ray Schnittker combined to sweep three Excelsior Series events along with the New York Sire Stakes race for the 3-year-old pacing fillies. They’ll try and keep their streak alive when they shuffle off to Buffalo Raceway with Bellbottom Country (Huntsville-My Girl’s A Star).
Bellbottom Country took a length victory in a qualifier at Saratoga Raceway in 2:00.4 and drew the nine post on Wednesday with MacDonald aboard.
Another damsel who was impressive in her qualifier was Ev Does It (Roll With Joe-Tesla Hanover) who toured the Monticello Raceway course in 1:59.4, posting a 3-1/2 length score. Michael Whelan will be the pilot.
Liberty Style (American Ideal-Fly In Style) notched a length victory in 1:59.2 at Harrah’s Philadelphia in her prep attempt. Jason Bartlett will guide Liberty Style.
Country Reba (American Ideal-Reba Dobie) had a solid 3-1/2 length victory in her qualifier at Monticello Raceway in a dialed down 2:02.1. Driver/trainer Cory Stratton will be at the controls of Country Reba.
The remainder of the field includes Bueckers (Kevin Cummings), Cookie Bar (Joseph Chindano Jr.), Hurrikanemaisykane (Drew Monti), American Shine (Brett Beckwith) and American Cheese (Colin Kelly)
The NYSS event will go off as the fifth race on the 13-race program. There is a $20,000 Excelsior Series event as well. First post is 2:30 p.m.
