Hamburg, NY – Elegant Woman A ($8.48) showed plenty of grace and charm in the home stretch to fend off a late charge from Utopia Blue Chip to capture Buffalo Raceway’s $15,500 Open Pace for the fillies and mares on Wednesday afternoon (April 15). She turned back Utopia Blue Chip a diminishing head in 1:55.0 over the fast track.
The winning move may have come early in the race as Tres Bluechip rolled to the top but Elegant Woman A (Drew Monti) wanted no part of the pocket trip and scurried back to the lead.
With splits of :28.2 and :58.0 posted, Elegant Woman A was ready for the assault from the first over and favored Utopia Blue Chip (Dale Spence). Hitting the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2, Elegant Woman A stayed strong and steady down the stretch as Utopia Blue Chip kept valiantly digging into the lead but just couldn’t overtake the winner. Face The Shadows (Kevin Cummings) was able to collect the show spot.
Owned by Monti, Vogel & Wags Nags Stable LLC along with Jack and trainer Maria Rice, it was the first win of the campaign for the 6-year-old Elegant Woman A (Bettor’s Delight-Versace Woman). The victory vaulted her 2026 bankroll to $14,047 and to $73,782 in her career.
In the sub-featured $11,500 pace for the ladies, Hurrikane Lori Ann ($5.42) made it three consecutive victories with an easy dialed down 1-1/2 length gate to wire score over Dear Abbey in 1:57.2.
Hurrikane Lori Ann took advantage of her inside starting position in setting the fractions of :28.4, :59.2 and 1:28.1. Enjoying a 3-1/4 length advantage turning for home, Hurrikane Lori Ann (Drew Monti) just cruised home safely as Dear Abbey (David McNeight III) made a subtle late bid while Already Sassy (Ron Beback Jr.) took third.
It was the third win in nine appearances for the 10-year-old Hurrikane Lori Ann (Lis Mara-Luxury Goods). Owned by George Dremonas and conditioned by Luis Ramirez, she has now collected $17,834 in earnings on the campaign and $353,890 lifetime.
There were plenty of fireworks in the last race on the card as Trident Born (Spence) produced a $317.10 victory which topped a $2 exacta (8-2) for $4223.48, $1 superfecta (8-2-3-5) for $19,301.59 and $2 daily double (5-8) of $1486.18
Monti finished the afternoon with a driving triple with Kevin Cummings getting a double. Rachelle Mungillo had a pair of training victories.
There’s a 12-race card set for Friday afternoon with a post time of 2:30 p.m. The second leg of the April Reins Claiming Series continues with all six divisions having a $12,500 purse and $8,500 claiming tags.
For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, entries, results and race replays, go to www.buffaloraceway.com