The Saturday (May 4) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs and Buffalo Raceway.

Prairie Fortune wins Tioga Downs feature

Nichols, NY — Prairie Fortune won the Tioga Downs $12,000 featured Open Handicap Trot on Saturday (May 4).

Prairie Fortune held off the late charge of second place finisher Freddie Mac to win in 1:53.4. Fred Brown photo.

Dragin The Wagon (Aaron Byron) led them to a first quarter of :27.1. Taco Tuesday (Jim Taggart Jr.) then dashed by to lead them to a half of :55.3 and a three-quarter mark of 1:24.2. Prairie Fortune ($4.70) went first-over from third just before three-quarters. Owned by Laurie Poulin and trainer Mike Deters, he would charge to the front and hold off the late charge of second place finisher Freddie Mac (Mike Merton) to win in 1:53.4. Dragin The Wagon finished third.

Prairie Fortune is a 7-year-old gelding by Arapa Victory. He won for the third time this season and the 50th time in his career.

Shutthefrontdoor (Fern Paquet Jr.) edged HP Sissy (Jim Meittinis) to claim the $12,000 Fillies & Mares Open 1 Handicap.

HP Sissy led to a first quarter of :26.2 and the half in :56. Shutthefrontdoor went first over to stick a head in front while hitting the three-quarters in 1:25.1. The two horses looked like they were joined at the hip as they went around the final turn. HP Sissy regained a short lead as they reached the stretch. Shutthefrontdoor, who is trained by Guy Howard for owners Brianne Good and Richard Villenueve surged enough in deep stretch to win in 1:53.3. HP Sissy was a stubborn second with K J’s Caroline (Jim Taggart Jr.) getting third money.

Shutthefrontdoor is an 8-year-old mare by Well Said. It was her first win of 2019 and her 24th career victory.

The huge opening day crowd enjoyed a large display of fireworks after racing concluded.

Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Sunday (May 5) with a 10-race card and a special starting time of 1:15 p.m. For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.

— John Horne

Vernon Downs
Mr Lucky Star (Roman Lopez) won the $12,700 Robert E. Keller Trotting Series final at Vernon Downs on Saturday. Barn Beast (Claude Huckabone Jr.) controlled the early fractions (:29.1, :59.4, and 1:28.4). Mr. Lucky Star ($2.80), who is owned by Joan Ellafrits with Lynn Wilson and trained by Lopez, shot out of the pocket and flew right by to win by more than five lengths in 1:57.4. Barn Beast held on for second with Irish Kate (Claude Huckabone III) getting third. Mr Lucky Star is a 4-year-old gelding by Mr Cantab. He is now three-for-three this season after no wins in his career coming into 2019.

Joe’s Life (Leon Bailey) was an upset winner in the $11,600 Anthony Farina Pacing Series final. The big favorite Gia’s Surreal (John MacDonald) put down all the early numbers (:28.3, :57.1, and 1:25.4). Joe’s Life ($33.60), who is owned by Rocco Stebbins and trained by Joe Skowyra, wore down a fading Gia’s Surreal in the stretch to win in a career best 1:55.3. Irish Art (Howard Parker) came up to claim second with Gia’s Surreal settling for third.

Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday (May 10) at 6:10 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

— John Horne

Buffalo Raceway
Rose Run Ranger ($3.30) used the inside post position to his advantage in Buffalo Raceway’s $12,000 Class AA Pace on Saturday night and cruised to a front-running decision over Adonis Bay in a seasonal best 1:54.4. It was the third consecutive victory for Rose Run Ranger. Drawing the one post, Rose Run Ranger (Ray Fisher Jr.) immediately stormed to the lead and notched sensible fractions of :29.1, :58.2 and 1:26.3. There was little movement in the stretch as Rose Run Ranger paced away to the comfortable two length win over Adonis Bay (David McNeight III) and China Dream (Billy Davis Jr.). Co-owned by the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, Rose Run Ranger (Major In Art-A And Gs Finest) was conditioned by James Clouser Jr. The 6-year-old gelding scored his fourth win in 13 appearances, putting $28,760 in the bank in 2019 and $103,693 in his career.

After three straight second place finishes, Upfront Countryboy ($3.90) had to sweat out a photo finish but finally got to the winner’s circle by edging out Beachy Dream by a nose in 1:54.4 in the co-featured $11,000 Class AA pace. Cutting the mile of :27.4, :56.3 and 1:25.3, Upfront Countryboy (Ray Fisher Jr.) had to withstand a three-horse charge in what was an exciting blanket finish. Beachy Dream was just a nose back while Western Passage (J D Wengerd) took third, only a neck behind. Owned by William Emmons and trained by Clouser Jr., it was the third win in 13 tries for the 10-year-old gelded Upfront Countryboy (Dragon Again-Cambloid). The victory moved his bankroll to $32,095 and $472,015 in his career.

Littlebitaclass ($8.40) watched Falcon’s Luke do all the dirty work then raced on by to take the $10,000 Class A pace in 1:56.1. With Falcon’s Luke (Fisher Jr.) cutting the mile with splits of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:27.4, Littlebitaclass and driver Drew Monti just waited for an opportunity in the drive to the wire. Their patience paid off as Littlebitaclass was able to roll on by and take the head win. Make A Statement A (Shawn McDonough) took the third place check. Owned by Tessa Roland and trained by JD Perrin, it was the third victory in 15 attempts in 2019 for Littlebitaclass (Santanna Blue Chip-Aspirine Semalu). The 8-year-old gelding has now produced $20,689 in earnings this season and $282,005 lifetime.

Fisher Jr. ended the evening with four driving wins while Monti and Kevin Cummings doubled. Clouser Jr. had a training triple with Lee Dahn and Ryan Swift getting two apiece.

Racing will resume on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with a nine-race program scheduled. For more information including the latest news, race replays, results, entries, upcoming promotions and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.

— Brian Mazurek