NYSS rematch set at Buffalo Wednesday
At 0h03, on May 31, 2022 • By BUFFALO
A reunion, a rivalry or just a plain old fashioned get-together. Whatever you want to call it, three finalists in the 2021 New York Sire Stakes 2-year-old colt and gelding pacing final will renew acquaintances on Wednesday afternoon (June 1) at Buffalo Raceway in the $60,300 first division of the NYSS 3-year-old colt pace.
The rematch takes place in the fourth race as 2021 2-year-old NYSS pacing champion JD starts his drive for a repeat but will have to deal with Forrest Blu and Pleaseletmeknow who finished in second and fifth, respectively, in the finale at Yonkers. The boys have grown up more and they collide for the first time in 2022 in hopes of earning a spot in the 3-year-old pacing division title race.
JD captured the title last year by rallying late to nip the pacesetting Forrest Blu by a neck in 1:55.1. Pleaseletmeknow was just 2-1/4 lengths behind at the finish to collect the fifth place check.
Thus far this season, JD (So Surreal-Park N Orchard) has two starts with one being a disqualification victory in the W.N. Reynolds Stakes at Yonkers on May 6. A winner of $168,866 lifetime, JD drew the seven hole and will have Mark MacDonald in the bike.
Forrest Blu, the runner up to JD last season in the final, appeared to have won the crown but faltered late in the stretch and had to settle for second place. He was out of the money once in nine races in 2021 and arrives with just a single start thus far this year, that being a fourth place finish in a conditioned event at Pocono on May 21.
A winner of $120,868 thus far in his career. Forrest Blu (Roll With Joe-Lima Fairest) drew the two position on the starting grid and will have Tyler Buter guiding him on the Hamburg half-mile oval.
Post time is 1:30 p.m.
