Hamburg, NY — Rose Run Ranger reverted back to his old tactics in Buffalo Raceway’s $12,500 Class AA-Open Pace on Sunday afternoon (June 16) and that plan worked to perfection with a three-quarter length victory over Western Passage in 1:55.1.

Rose Run Ranger felt some pressure in the lane from Western Passage but a :27.3 last frame was good enough to secure the victory. Steve Roth photo.

With the field trimmed down to four due to the scratch of China Dream, Rose Run Ranger and driver Ray Fisher Jr. had a choice to make. The equally capable pacer could set the fractions or sit back and be a closer. They decided to be the front runner and it proved to be the correct decision.

Setting fractions of :28.2, :57.4 and 1:27.3 over the ‘good’ track, Rose Run Ranger ($3.60) felt some pressure in the lane from Western Passage (Hunter Myers) but a :27.3 last frame was good enough to secure the victory. Charmbo Orbit (David McNeight III) finished in third place.

Co-owned by the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, Rose Run Ranger (Major In Art-A And Gs Finest) is trained by James Clouser Jr. The 6-year-old gelding has now earned $48,510 this season and $123,486 lifetime.

Clouser made it a training sweep of the main events as he watched Upfront Countryboy (Shawn McDonough) dig in late in an $11,500 AA-Open and strut on by a stubborn Lucan Hanover (Billy Davis Jr.) in 1:53.4, equaling his seasonal best.

Lucan Hanover had things his own way through the opening panels of :28.2, :58 and 1:26.2 but then received an expected visitor in the outside in Upfront Countryboy. It was a match race down the long Buffalo Raceway stretch with Upfront Countryboy ($7.30) managing to pull ahead just before the finish line. Lucan Hanover had to settle for a heart-breaking second while Western Conquest (Fisher Jr.) took the show spot.

Owned by William Emmons, it was the sixth win in 19 attempts for the 10-year-old gelded Upfront Countryboy (Dragon Again-Cambloid). The win pushed his seasonal winnings to $53,725 and $493,145 in his career.

In a pair of $10,000 Class A paces, Adonis Bay (JD Wengerd) found the rail and class relief to his liking and nipped Lots Of Lovin (Ray Fisher Jr.) by a neck in 1:54.2 and returned $5.70 to his backers.

Focus Power ($3.50) took the second division with a coast-to-coast triumph over Littlebitofabrat (Denny Bucceri) in 1:56. Drew Monti guided him to the narrow nose win.

Davis Jr. completed the matinee with four wins while McDonough and Myers each doubled.

Racing will continue on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with a 12-race card slated. The New York Sire Stakes will highlight the program with the 3-year-old filly pacers squaring off. There will also be action in the Excelsior A and B categories.

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