By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs
Batavia, NY — The New York Sire Stakes returns to Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 21) and brings with it a field of five first-year male trotters who will compete in one dash valued at $102,500.
The most successful horse in the field is BJM’s Little Man (Devious Man-Vixen) who has won four of six lifetime starts with one third, has amassed $95,450 as a result and has a lifetime mark of 1:56.4 at Tioga Downs. However only one of those wins was in a NYSS event while three came in Excelsior action. And that third place finish in his last outing came at the hands of two of his rivals who he will also face again in this race.
BJM’s Lil Man, who drew post three, is trained by John Berger and has regular driver Tyler Buter back aboard.
Karinchak (Chapter Seven-Sianna Hanover) has started in seven NYSS races this year and has only one win as well. But that came in his last start where he defeated BJM’s Lil Man at Monticello Raceway. The win time of 1:59.2 was also his lifetimark and he comes into this race in top form and looking to repeat.
Mark Macdonald will drive from post two for trainer Ray Schnittker.
Variegated (Chapter Seven-White Cheetah) finished second in that race at Monticello behind Karinchak and ahead of BJM’s Lil Man, and it was his second straight second place finish as well. And although he has not won a race all year, he has also not missed a check in his five lifetime starts and has been very competitive in all of his outings.
Braxton Boyd will sit between the wheels for trainer Marcus Melander from post four.
The NYSS competition is carded as race six. There are also two $20,000 Excelsior trots that will go as race seven and eight. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m.
Free full card past performance programs for Wednesday, as well as every live card of racing at Batavia, can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab.