NYSS action at Buffalo

Hitwiththeladies, a 2-year-old Giant Hit colt, won for the fourth time in a row on Saturday night at Buffalo Raceway, and for the second-straight time in the New York Sire Stakes, and has established himself as the horse to beat in his division of the rich state-bred series.

“He’s awesome,” said driver Jack Flanigen said of the colt owned bytrainer Allan P. McCarty . “This is one of the best horses I’ve ever sat behind.”

After leaving sharply from post position three in a field of eight trotters, Flanigen and Hitwiththeladies set all the quarter-mile-fractions in the race--:30.3, 1:01.3, and 1:33.1. The final time of 2:02.2 was a new lifetime best mile, and just one-fifth of a second of the track record of 2:02.1, set last year by Paddington.

After a daylong rain, the track was listed as “good,” but it still had plenty of moisture in it.

Finishing second, 2 1/4 lengths behind, were Sand Amory and driver Keith Kash Jr., and Alpine Dauntless and driver Brian Walker finished in the show spot.

Hitwiththeladies paid $2.50 to win as the prohibitive favorite, and the $14,250 winner’s share of the purse boosted his earnings to $43,750.

The first New York Sire Stakes division, with a purse of $28,501, was won by Alpine Intruder and driver Jim Morrill Jr. The Lion King colt went wire-to-wire, in 2:05, and registered his fourth win in the first four races of his career. Maria Rice trains the winner for owner Vito D. Cucci of Glen Ridge N.J.

“He scared the you know what out of me when he almost flipped over backwards as the starter called the horses to post,” Morrill said. “But once he got the lead he was just fine.”

It was Alpine Intruder’s second win in the New York Sire Stakes and his share of the purse puts his total earnings at $39,527. He paid $3.50 to win as the favorite. Jack’s Reef and driver Bill Bailey finished second and Pretty Winner and driver Ray Schnittker finished third.

Redneck Reindeer broke his maiden on Saturday. Trainer-driver Dan Daley steered Redneck Reindeer, a 2-year-old Giant Hit gelding, to his first lifetime win for owners Ann-Mari Daley, Michael White, and Jared Daley of Florida and Georgia. Dan Daley also trains the winner, who trotted home in 2:04.4.

“He’s getting better and better,” Dan Daley said. “This horse was a birthday present for my wife Ann-Mari, so when she’s happy, I’m happy.”

After leaving from post position two, Redneck Reindeer and Daley quickly took the lead, never looked back, and won by three and one-quarter lengths over the second place finishers, Dollar Store and driver Jim Morrill, Jr., and Missile T and driver Ken Ball, who finished in the show spot.

Ilikethewayumove received a patient drive from Perry Simser and registered his first win for owners Carla Dinova, Thomas McTyque, and John Stark Jr. The latter also trains the Conway Hall colt, who made a strong backside brush to pass the tiring leaders en route to a three and one-quarter length victory over the second place finishers, Buddy Kash and driver Jim McNeight.

“John’s (trainer John Stark Jr.) done a great job with him,” a jubilant Simser said. “I think you’re going to her a lot about him in the future.”

The winner trotted the mile in 2:06.2 and paid a handsome $10.20 to his lucky backers. Driver Bill Bailey and Sam The Paver Man finished third. (Buffalo Raceway press release)

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