Buffalo: Track record performance by American Fling in NY Sire Stakes

American Fling improved to three-for-three in the New York Sire Stakes program in 2022 with a 1:55 1/5 victory in Wednesday afternoon's one $104,400 contest for 2-year-old male pacers at Buffalo Raceway. That clocking lowered the track record for a freshman gelding pacer at the half-mile oval by a full second.

Driven by Jim Morrill Jr., American Fling hustled out from post one to the early lead, but Bandito Joe (Matt Kakaley) tipped out of third going to the 28 2/5 opening quarter and overtook American Fling for the top spot on the second turn. From there, Bandito Joe would go on to hit the half in 57 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:26 3/5, but Morrill Jr. brought American Fling to the outside on the final bend and surged by Bandito Joe to take command again.

After he went by Bandito Joe, American Fling opened up a gap on the others, and he was able to hold sway over a gaining Its A Me Mario (Lauren Tritton) through the stretch and to the wire, winning by a length. Bandito Joe held third over Train Station (Kevin Cummings).

The previous track record for a 2-year-old gelding pacer was 1:56 1/5 set by Pickup Man Hanover on June 30 of last year.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

The victorious son of American Ideal-Feeling You is trained by Ed Hart for the ownership group of Randy Bendis, Reed Broadway, and Pollack Racing LLC. American Fling, who was bred by White Birch Farm and brought $25,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has a record of 3-1-0 from four starts, and he has now pocketed $104,575. He paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 favorite.