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Saturday’s (May 14) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Buffalo Raceway, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs and Saratoga.

Buffalo Raceway’s Open Pace ends in a dead heat

Hamburg, NY — Mr Perserverance tried to cut the mile and Fridaynightflight did everything he could to not allow that to happen. The final result? The pair ended up in a dead heat in Buffalo Raceway’s featured $10,000 Open Pace on Saturday night (May 14).

At the start, Mr Perserverance went right to the lead and registered splits of :29.0, :58.0 and 1:27.0. It looked like a perfect set up for the closers Knocking Around and China Dream. While both were lurking on the outside turning for home, neither one fired and finished out of the money.

So with the two closers no longer involved, Mr Perserverance (Ron Beback Jr.) had to deal with unexpected challenges in the passing lane from Fridaynightflight (Todd Cummings) and Babe’s I Scoot. It seemed like Mr Perserverance ($12.70) might hang on but a late surge by Fridaynightflight ($8.40) resulted in a finish that couldn’t separate the pair in the photo. Babe’s I Scoot (Kevin Cummings) finished third, just a neck behind in the race that went in 1:55.3.

Mr Perserverance (Real Artist-Miss Tenacity) is an 8-year-old gelding who is owned by William Emmons and trained by James Clouser Jr. It was his third victory in 10 starts this season, pushing his earnings to $16,630 and $274,279 lifetime.

Fridaynightflight (Panspacificflight-Ramlin Rosie) is a 7-year-old gelding owned by Tessa Roland and conditioned by JD Perrin. The win was the fifth in 16 tries for Fridaynightflight, improving his 2016 bankroll to $34,600 and $651,095 in his career.

Beback Jr. had a good night in the bike with a four-bagger along with a training victory while Todd Cummings, Shawn McDonough and Drew Monti all doubled. Buffalo Raceway’s leading trainer JD Perrin added another three wins to his total while Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr., Maria Rice and Clouser Jr. conditioned two.

Racing will resume on Wednesday (May 18) night at 5 p.m. with 11 races scheduled.

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

— by Brian J. Mazurek

Tioga Downs

While favorites K J’s Caroline ($4.20) and Its Payday Friday ($3.40) held sway on the lead in their respective $9,000 featured events on Saturday (May 14) evening at Tioga Downs, it was Shesgotthebeat ($32.40) who stole the show, springing a 15-1 upset to sweep her preliminary legs of the Gail’s Diner Late Closing Series for 3-year-old pacing fillies.The first $7,500 division of the Gail’s Diner preliminary saw first-round winners Shesgotthebeat and Heavenly Bet square off, with 1-9 favorite Heavenly Bet (Scott Coulter) doing the heavy lifting through the middle half. After drafting intently, Jim Meittinis angled Shesgotthebeat off the pegs at head-stretch, dueling to a length victory in 1:55.1 over good going. Heavenly Bet was a vanquished favorite in the end, yet still 3-1/2 lengths clear of Ghost Runner (Tom Jackson), who chased in vain for third. Shesgotthebeat, a 3-year-old daughter of American Ideal, is trained by Edward Hart for the Seafood Delight Stable, Kristie Leigh Farm, Inc., and Joseph Betro. The other Gail’s Diner division saw Stirling Electra ($10.80) duel with Winners Over (Dan Clements) for the entirety of the far turn, gutting out a half-length 1:57.3 victory under Corey Braden. Trainer Jennifer Davis co-owns the Roll With Joe filly with Joyce Nowicki.
In the co-featured $9,000 top-level trot and distaff pace, Its Payday Friday and K J’s Caroline proved victorious while favored. Its Payday Friday, a 6-year-old Kadabra gelding, held the first-over Prairie Fortune at bay for a 1:55.3 score. Owner Dan Clements handled the driving duties for trainer Ronnie Morales. The top mares pace saw K J’s Caroline make all the pace, edging clear of Asset Management for a four-length triumph in 1:55.1. Jim Taggart, Jr. drove the 6-year-old Roddy’s Bags Again mare for trainer Gary Messenger. The 50-cent Pick 5 was not hit, resulting in a $323 carryover to Sunday (May 15) afternoon’s card. The first of 13 races is due off at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

Vernon Downs

After rising steadily through the ranks amid three wins in as many starts, the J P Stables’ Damon Blue Chip ($5.90) extended his streak to four in Saturday (May 14) night’s $7,500 top-level pace at Vernon Downs. Trainer-driver John MacDonald sent the 7-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding to the front, but had to work clear of Pantehon Hanover (Chris Lems) through a :26.4 first quarter. Once clear, Damon Blue Chip maintained a blistering pace over off going, reeling off middle fractions of :54.3 and 1:22.4 before gaining some separation in upper stretch. The now 31-time winner ultimately drew off from Pantheon Hanover by 2-1/4 lengths for a 1:52.1 score, while The Green Knight (Truman Gale) was a farther 10-1/4 lengths back in third after a mild rally out of last on the far turn. Jimmy Whittemore led all drivers with three wins on the nine-race card, teaming up with Mower’sbigmike ($14.00, 1:56.1), Veal Marsala ($5.50, 1:55.1), and Western Toro ($9.70, 1:56.4). The 50-cent Pick 5 once again evaded the Vernon punters, leading to a $1,626.50 carryover to Thursday (May 19) evening. A 10-race program is due to commence at 6:45 p.m. EDT.

Saratoga

There were a pair of mild upsets in the two series finals that took place on Saturday (May 14) night at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Virginia O’Brien and J P Morel Memorial Pacing Series reached their conclusion on Saturday (May 14) and while both races featured odds-on favorites, it was two horses who drew post position one that wound up prevailing. Eight fillies and mares battled it out for their share of the $27,500 purse in the Virginia O’Brien final and while B B Royale (Stephane Bouchard) was the race’s 3-5 favorite it was She’snobeachboy (Dave Panlone) who prevailed in 1:57.1 after a first over journey. The Dave Spagnola-trained She’snobeachboy returned $9.50 to win as he bested runner up Stormin Spree (Mark Beckwith) while Southwind Marilyn (Billy Dobson) finished third. Brigadoon (Billy Dobson) was the 1-5 betting favorite in the J P Morel Memorial Pacing Series final and wound up second best as the race’s frontrunner Hillbillycashflow (Cam’s Card Shark) held on to win it in 1:56.2. Jimmy Devaux piloted Hillbillycashflow for trainer Heidi Rohr and coasted along unopposed in a slow first half of :59 seconds before holding off the late charge of Brigadoon to win by a head. Hillbillycashflow returned $15.00 to win. Brigadoon had to settle for second in the $27,100 Final while Wishes In The Rain (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) earned the show spot. Live racing continues on Sunday (May 15) afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee beginning at 12:15 p.m.