NYSS at Buffalo this wkd.

Buffalo Raceway will host a New York Sire Stakes weekend worth $235,091 on Friday and Saturday when the 2-year-old pacers make their Sire Stakes debut. Each of the 109 young performers appearing in Sire Stakes action over the two days are still relatively inexperienced and will be proving their skill in this first major test.

But among the most promising is Big Al's Delight, a Bettor's Delight colt racing in the eighth race Saturday and pegged as the even-money morning line favorite. He is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Goshen Cup at the Meadowlands in which he was timed in 1:52.4 in one of the fastest 2-year-old races of the season.

Big Al's Delight is trained by Mickey Burke for Sylvia Burke, Thomas Cherichello and Lawrence Karr. Leading Buffalo Raceway driver Jim Morrill Jr. will be in the sulky behind the colt for the first time from post five.

Among the locally-owned colts competing against the best in the state on Saturday will be Spode To Be Black, owned by Clinton Munn of Alden, N.Y., racing in the sixth. West Falls residents Catherine and Thomas Barzycki will send out Riverboat Baby in the seventh race, in which he will seek to break his maiden. Both colts are sons of first-crop sire Riverboat King and will be directed by James McNeight.

The colts will compete in eight divisions on Saturday with two Sire Stakes carded as early non-betting races with a special post time of 6:15 p.m. The official 14-race card will begin at the normal post time of 7:05 p.m. with Sire Stakes as races three, four, six, seven, eight and 10.

The fillies will take to the track in seven divisions worth a combined $117,451 on Friday evening.

Among the headliners is Julie's Solo, who won the $47,750 Debutante in 1:54.1 at the Meadowlands in her last start. Morrill will direct this homebred Pro Bono Best filly in race three for owner Lynne Mondrick and trainer Brian Magie Jr.

Southwind Prairie, a Bettor's Delight filly starting in race two, has already shown her ability on the Hamburg half-mile with her 1:59.4 victory in the track's signature Patsy Rapone Final on July 8. Trainer Stephen Schoeffel will be in the bike as usual for owner Karl Schoeffel.

Friday's New York Sire Stakes are scheduled as races two, three, four, six, seven, nine and 10 on the 13-race program. Post time is 7:05 p.m.



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On Friday evening, Buffalo Raceway will host a special promotion for racing fans. Anyone who wears their 2006 New York Sire Stakes T-shirt, which was a free gift on June 24, will be eligible to win free wagers up to $100 on New York Sire Stakes races during the program.



This promotion is sponsored by Buffalo Raceway, Harness Horse Breeders of New York State and the Western New York Harness Horsemen's Association.

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