by Brian Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — Upfront Countryboy ($5.60) made it look easy once again at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (April 21) by thumping the field in the featured $9,600 pace in a seasonal best 1:54.0 over the fast track.

Steve Roth photo

Upfront Countryboy strolls to easy Buffalo Racewayvictory.

After blowing out his foes last week by 5-1/2 lengths in an $8,100 optional claimer, Upfront Countryboy stepped up in class to face better. The stiffer competition didn’t matter as he paced away to a comfortable 7-1/4 length win over Im So Handsome.

Taking command through a half-mile of :56.4, Upfront Countryboy (Shawn Gray) never looked back from there. A blazing :27.4 final split eliminated the slight hopes of the remaining six pacers had in the stretch. Im So Handsome (James McNeight Jr) held on for second place while Barrys Shelby (Ray Fisher Jr.) took the show position.

Owned by William Emmons and trained by James Clouser Jr., it was the fifth win in eight attempts this season for Upfront Countryboy (Dragon Again-Cambloid). The 9-year-old gelding has now put $14,957 in the bank in 2018 and $376,957 lifetime.

Gray completed the evening with five wins in the sulky, Drew Monti tripled and Fisher Jr. had a double. Clouser Jr. finished with four training victories and JD Perrin added three.

It was a memorable night for Riley Asher-Stalbaum as she registered her first career training victory as Empire Earl N (Fisher Jr.) won the $8,100 trot in 1:58.1.

Racing will continue on Wednesday night with a 10-race card scheduled for 5 p.m.

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