Hamburg, NY — After three second place finishes in his last four starts in Buffalo Raceway’s Open Trot, Big Baller Beane ($9.40) got the job done at last on Friday afternoon (May 16) with a three-quarter length victory over El Toro Loco in a season’s best 1:57.3.
With a $16,000 purse on the line, El Toro Loco rocketed off the starting gate from the six spot and showed the way with fractions of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:28.2. The race began in earnest at the final panel as El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) was now being surrounded by pocket sitting Dougadougadew (Kyle Cummings) on the inside and first over Big Baller Beane (Shawn McDonough) on the outside.
The threesome trotted together through the lane but approaching the finish line, Big Baller Beane was able to grab the lead away from El Toro Loco while Dougadougadew had to settle for a tough luck third.
Owned by Kathy Schoeffel, Jim Reuther and Roger Romesser, the 5-year-old gelded Big Baller Beane (Father Patrick-Global Desire) is trained by Angelo Nappo. The victory was his second in 14 attempts on the campaign, increasing his seasonal total to $34,280 and $196,683 lifetime.
In the sub-featured $14,500 pace for the ladies, Oaxacan Dream N (David McNeight III) got a dream journey and easily disposed of her four rivals in taking the 1-3/4 length win over Scenic Adventure in a seasonal best of 1:55.3.
After a brief skirmish on the front end with Rightfully Mine, Oaxacan Dream N ($3.70) settled in on the front end and posted fractions of :28.1, :58.1 and 1:27. There was little doubt down the stretch who was in charge as Oaxacan Dream N romped to the dialed down victory with Scenic Adventure (Kevin Cummings) rallying for second place honors and Rightfully Mine (Kyle Swift) took the show position.
Owned by Vogel & Wags Nags and conditioned by Maria Rice, it was the fourth win of the year in 13 outings for the 9-year-old Oaxacan Dream N (Big Jim-Verde Lima). The victory jumped her 2025 bankroll to $39,540 and $252,689 in her career.
Four Finger Floyd threw a monkey wrench into the fourth race results as he posted a $68.00 victory for driver James McNeight Jr. The major upset produced an 8-5 exacta of $907.00, the 8-5-all trifecta returned $4,685.00 while the 8-5-6-all superfecta paid $15,093.50. The stunner also helped in producing a carryover of $1,046 in the Pick-5 for Saturday starting in the second race.
McNeight III completed the afternoon with three wins with Kyle Cummings and McNeight Jr. getting two apiece. Thomas Mays had a training hat trick.
Racing will resume on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. with a 12-race card set to go postward.
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