HAMBURG, N.Y. --- "I expected him to do this," driver Brett Miller after he guided Lone Survivor to the fastest time in the three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers at Buffalo Raceway Wednesday night (May 27).

 

Lone Survivor (Art Major-Wenditone) cruised to an easy six-length victory in 1:53.4 in taking his $39,900 leg. 

 

In other Sire Stakes activity, K-Rock was nearly as impressive after notching a 3-1/4 win in 1:54.0 while J Eagle Feather found the winner's circle for the first time in his brief four-race career by covering the mile in 1:56.0.

 

Miller took the blame for Lone Survivor's fifth place finish last week in Sire Stakes competition at Tioga Downs and was more than ready for redemption. "I drove this horse so bad last week," Miller said. "He's a nice colt and I knew he was ready tonight."

 

Sitting fourth headed down the backstretch, Miller went three-wide and paced away from the field. Quickly opening up a five-length edge at the top of the stretch, Lone Survivor ($5.40) finished with a six length advantage over runner up Artistic Major (Pat Lachance) and Americanprimetime (Rick Dane Jr.) at the wire.

 

"I wasn't worried at all going up the backstretch," Miller said about the final half-mile. "I was feeling good about him.  I just let him go and he did his thing," added Miller about Lone Survivor's big backside move.

 

Trained by Sam De Pinto, it was the first victory in three seasonal starts for Lone Survivor, now a winner of $21,532 this year and $86,491 lifetime.

 

K-Rock had to tussle with We Think Alike in the opening panel scrum and that proved to be the right move. Posting fractions of 27.0, 56.1 and 1:24.2, K-Rock never looked back and disposed of the remaining six entrants easily by 3-1/4 lengths.

 

"I didn't want to sit third and get caught in traffic," winning driver Matt Kakaley said of the decision to send K-Rock to the top.

 

Enjoying a four-length advantage at the top of the lane, Kakaley admitted that K-Rock was throttled down in the drive for the wire. "He was kind of spent but still raced good. I think a 1:24.2 mark to the three-quarter pole is a pretty good time for this track."

 

Southwind Masimo showed some good closing speed to take the place position while Masterson (Jim Morrill Jr.) rallied for the show spot.

 

K-Rock (Rock N Roll Hanover-Sunduel A) is a 3-year-old gelding that is owned by Eugene Kurzrok and trained by Ron Burke. It was his second win in four starts in 2015 and pushed his seasonal winnings to $38,862 and $74,688 lifetime.

 

J Eagle Feather went gate-to-wire and held on to beat the highly-regarded Sicily by a neck in 1:56.0. A final sizzling quarter-mile of 26.4 secured the win for J Eagle Feather.

 

Using some soft splits of 29.3, 59.2 and 1:29.2, Morrill Jr. said in the winner's circle, "We got away with some cheap fractions. He's never cut the mile before and still is very green. The only time I asked of him was in the last quarter mile and he responded."

 

Sicily (Kakaley) took the hard-luck second place position while Maurice (Lachance) was third.

 

Trained by Linda Toscano and owned by Kj Stables LLC, J Eagle Feather (Bettor's Delight-Town Feather) picked up a nice check for $19,600 his first place effort. He has been in the money three times in four career appearances.

 

In the $15,000 Excelsior 'A' Series, Nobettorplacetobe tripped the timer in a solid 1:54.3 time to register the $7.20 decision for driver John Cummings Jr. In the other leg, Coaster (Kakaley) posted a popular $2.20 score in 1:58.1.

 

Tonite We Rock ($45.80) covered the mile in 1:57.4 for driver Jack Flanigen to take the $6,800 Excelsior 'B' Series event.

 

Kakaley and Morrill Jr. each finished the evening with driving triples.

 

Racing continues on Friday night at Buffalo Raceway with a 13-race program scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

 

For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, race replays and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com