Hamburg, NY — Faithful Desire ($14.40) rocketed to the lead up the backstretch and posted a solid four-length victory in Buffalo Raceway’s $17,500 Open Pace for fillies and mares on Wednesday night (March 15).

Sitting sixth just past the half-mile marker, Faithful Desire (driven by Kevin Cummings) went first-over eagerly, quickly gobbling up ground as she went from five lengths back to two lengths in front in just a quarter mile.

Faithful Desire then left little doubt heading down the lane as she notched a :27.4 final panel to dispose of second-place finisher Dragon Sparks (Joseph Chindano Jr.). Candy’s Desire (Kyle Cummings) and Ideal Chip (Ray Fisher Jr.) finished in a dead heat for third.

Faithful Desire used a big move to take Wednesday night’s Open Pace for the gals at Buffalo Raceway. Bill Burke photo.

It was the third win in seven attempts this season for the 9-year-old Faithful Desire (Real Desire-Faith Ann), owned by Eva Saintcross and conditioned by Shawn McDonough. The victory jacked her 2023 bankroll to $27,179.

Chasethecloudsaway was chased the entire mile but no one could catch her in the $13,100 sub-featured distaff event.

Going off as the heavy favorite, Chasethecloudsaway (Chindano) took full advantage of her inside post position, racing out to the lead and parking Princesa Alta along the way.

After putting up splits of :29, :58 and 1:28.1, Chasethecloudsaway ($2.40) only had to deal with eventual runner-up She Can Party (Kevin Cummings) down the lane and did so with relative ease. She strolled off to a dialed-down 1-1/4-length win in 1:57.1. Ruthmae Hanover (Dan Yetman) took the show spot.

Co-owned by David Del Pozzo and trainer Christopher Petrelli, the 6-year-old Chasethecloudsaway (Sunshine Beach-Janns Bid) recorded her second win in four tries this season. The win moved her earnings to $11,470 on the year.

There were several $11,200 events for both trotters and pacers to spice up the program.

In the initial trotting encounter, Explosive Leggs ($8.80) and Yetman made a late lunge at the wire and nipped the favored BJ Anthony by a nose in 2:01.3. The second bracket had CR Blazin Beauty ($3.00) and Kevin Cummings rolling to their second straight decision with a neck score over Megabank K in 2:00.

On the $11,200 pacing side, Bank The Win ($3.50) banked her second consecutive victory with a season’s best 1:56.1 triumph over Fox Valley Charliz, while Free Flyin Ticket ($2.30) went gate-to-wire and crushed the field by open lengths in 1:56.

Kevin Cummings completed the evening with four winners in the sulky while Matthew Athearn and Chindano, who made his Buffalo Raceway debut, doubled. James Rothfuss and Shawn McDonough posted training doubles.

Racing at Buffalo Raceway will resume on Saturday evening (March 18) at 6 p.m. with a 13-race program slated.

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