To say that trainer Travis Alexander is having a career year is an understatement. With August yet to come to a close, the 25-year veteran of harness racing has already eclipsed his career highs in wins (215) and stable earnings ($4,482,597) while sporting a gaudy 26% win rate. Those statistics are sure to bulk up a bit on Sunday at Tioga Downs when Alexander sends out horses in each of the four Empire Breeders Classic divisions for male and female 3-year-old pacers. The EBC showcases the best New York-bred horses, and Alexander has a keen focus on that circuit. "I think it is a great program," said Alexander. "I can only train what my clients give me, and it just happens to be New York-breds. I guess it is my little niche of the business." Arguably the best Empire State horse in the Alexander barn is Howlenthehills, who starts from post one in the first $104,500 EBC for colts and geldings slated as race eight. Almost exclusively with driver Matt Kakaley in the bike, the gelded son of American Ideal has won 10 of 11 starts in 2024 after a winless campaign the previous season. Considering that Howlenthehills faces a mixed group of NY Sire Stakes and NY Excelsior foes on Sunday while avoiding the top-ranked national entrant Legendary Hanover in the second division, it is highly likely that the 3-year-old will see his win streak extended to five. "He got very lucky to avoid Legendary Hanover and even Boston Rocks. That other field is quite the group of horses. That said, Howlenthehills hasn't done anything wrong all year except for that one bad step [in deep stretch while leading] in the Messenger. [On Sunday] It is his race to lose on paper," said Alexander, who touched on how good Howlenthehills may actually be. "The pundits have no idea how good he really is but we'll see come Breeders Crown. I'm 50/50 whether to take him to the Little Brown Jug or not. I think when we really cut him loose he'll surprise some people." ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Of course what's good for Howlenthehills is bad news for Alexander's other two starters – Ideal Par and Huntingforchrome – in the $105,750 second division going as race 10. Ideal Par is taking a huge step up in class from the Excelsior level and could be up against it on Sunday, though Huntingforchrome is riding a three-race win streak in New York and has tested Grand Circuit foes in the Adios and Meadowlands Pace, albeit without hitting the board. "Huntingforchrome is a very nice horse who has gotten better every week we've had him. The Bongiornos did a great job getting him ready for the season and the change of scenery has helped. He's a very fast horse and very full of himself right now. If he can get position and stay close to Legendary, it will be an interesting outcome," said Alexander. Huntingforchrome and Kakaley must overcome the outside post seven while Legendary Hanover and James MacDonald have a prime spot in the three-hole. That pair just missed last weekend in the $300,000 Max Hempt at Pocono Downs behind Captain Albano, who soundly defeated Huntingforchrome in the Adios in late July. Previously, Legendary Hanover won the Meadowlands Pace and Cane Pace at the Meadowlands in 1:46 3/5 and 1:46 2/5, respectively. Alexander is also represented in both $108,000 EBC races for fillies. In the third race he sends out She's Epic from post six with Kakaley again in the bike. "She's a nice filly with a few physical issues to overcome," said Alexander, who added that he addressed one of them. "She fits very well with this group, and I expect an even better effort this week than last." Perhaps the fillies to beat in this division are Peace Talks, a multi-leg Sire Stakes winner in New York that showed some improvement last time after a couple of dull efforts, and A Few Choice Words, who has won two of her last four NY-sired races. Avyanna goes behind the gate in the sixth race second EBC split with Kakaley in the bike from post four. She joined Alexander's barn a few starts back to compete in New York after being prepared in Canada and has produced a win and a second in three starts. "I think she is sitting on a huge effort. She was struggling at Yonkers. She needed some equipment changes which we made. She would've been a lot closer to Tarrific last time at Yonkers if she wasn't so bumpy on the turns," said Alexander, who said the daughter of Roll With Joe trained fantastic Wednesday (8/21) morning. "I'm glad Paul MacDonell and his owners sent her down. She's here for two more weeks and then she'll go back up to them." Alexander mentioned Tarrific and she has been terrific for trainer Chris Ryder and driver Jason Bartlett. The pair have teamed up for her four victories in eight starts this year, all in New York Sire Stakes company. The Huntsville-sired filly starts from post two. Sunday's 15-race Tioga card kicks off at 1:00 P.M. (EDT) with a $51,500 split of the Sire Stakes for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Alexander has Silent Weapon in the five-horse field and also predicted a "big effort" from the son of Huntsville. The trainer's main driver Kakaley is again expected to control the lines.