by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — Fast N Victorious was just that in the New York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers while Skip Jive remained unbeaten in his brief career to share top honors at Buffalo Raceway Wednesday night (July 8).

Steve Roth photo

Fast N Victorious (1) notched a win in 1:58 in Sire Stakes action at Buffalo Raceway.

In the first $54,500 division, Fast N Victorious ($5.70) drafted perfectly behind the pace-setting Red Roll, who put up solid times of 28.3, 59.1 and 1:28.3. It was a ding-dong battle to the wire with Fast N Victorious able to sneak past the stubborn Red Roll in the passing lane for the neck win in 1:58. Brigadoon (Billy Dobson) finished in third.

“Red Roll was very competitive and we had to fight for the win,” Gregory said of the stretch drive. He added, “Fast N Victorious is like a race car and he loves the small tracks.”

Owned by the Jesmeral Stable and trained by Gregory, Fast N Victorious (Art Major-Yankee Luck) rebounded nicely after a disappointing second place finish in his only start in Sire Stakes action last week at Monticello. The victory jumped his earnings to $35,891.

Skip Jive ($4.90) made it a perfect 2-for-2 in his young career putting in another impressive performance in 1:57.1 in the second division.

Being hung on the outside at the start, driver Mark MacDonald stepped on the gas with Skip Jive and took command at the quarter-pole. Setting fractions of 28.4, 57.4 and 1:28.2, Skip Jive was ready for a stretch battle from a threatening Joes On A Roll and Best Of Ribera.

But things fell apart quickly as Joes On A Roll broke stride in the lane and interfered with Best Of Ribera, wiping out the chances both had of a win. Those issues allowed Skip Jive to cruise off with a 3-1/4 length victory. Carlos Danger (Jim Morrill Jr.) picked up the pieces for second place while Fine Diamond (Matt Kakaley) placed third.

MacDonald said the race at Goshen on June 21 where Skip Jive made a break at the start has turned him around. “We made a few equipment adjustments after Goshen and it really helped him out.” He went on to say of Skip Jive, “He’s a really nice horse. He was well in hand at the finish.”

Co-owned by the W. Springtime Racing Stable and Shannon Brott, Skip Jive (Rock N Roll Heaven-Dancinwiththestarz) is trained by Paul Kelley. The win pushed his two-race career winnings to $42,033.

In the $15,000 Excelsior Series ‘A’ races, KJ Erich ($3.60) took the first division with a 1:58.3 mile for Gregory while Acting Out ($7.00) posted a 2:00.0 winning mark for Mike Simons. Gregory, a native of nearby Churchville, N.Y., finished the night with a double.

NY Whitesox ($7.50) took the $6,600 Excelsior Series ‘B’ race by going wire-to-wire for Dobson in 2:02.