Alta Engen A ($4.30) was on the engine in Buffalo Raceway's $16,712 featured pace on Saturday, May 4 with a gate-to-wire victory over Davey Day Trader in a seasonal best of 1:54.1.
In the co-featured $16,712 trot, Gracious Triumph ($8.60) made it two consecutive victories with an impressive 3-1/2-length nod over Con Air Hall.
After six straight starts from either the five or six post, Alta Engen A finally drew the rail and wasn't about to let that spot go to waste. Taking right off from the start, Alta Engen A (Kevin Cummings) set the tempo with splits of :28, :56.2 and 1:25.3 over the fast track.
Heading down the long Buffalo Raceway homestretch, Davey Day Trader (James McNeight Jr.) tried to cut into the lead but Alta Engen A dug in and wasn't going to be denied. Street Art (Dan Yetman) took the third place prize.
Owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Samuel Smith, six-year-old gelding Alta Engen A (Alta Christiano-Its Karma) notched his fourth win in 15 attempts this season. The victory increased his 2024 bankroll to $44,238 and lifetime earnings to $250,433.
In the top trotting event on the program, Gracious Triumph (Shawn McDonough) used a big three-wide move at the three-quarter mark and blew past Con Air Hall in a season's best of 1:58.
Blogmaster (Jim Morrill Jr.), starting from the seven post, was able to grab the lead and set up shop on the front end with times of :29.2, :59.1 and 1:29.1. But things fell apart quickly for the tempo-setter.
Con Air Hall (Drew Monti) used a first-over blitz to go past Blogmaster but it also brought along Gracious Triumph. That proved to be costly as Gracious Triumph used that live cover, going three-wide, and then rolled on past a stunned Con Air Hall down the lane. Curry Hanover (Kevin Cummings), the even money favourite, was third.
It was the fourth win in 10 tries this season for six-year-old mare Gracious Triumph (Triumphant Caviar-Sweet Touch), trained by McDonough and owned by Harry Wortzman, The victory jumped her seasonal earnings to $28,860 and career bankroll to $220,688.
Drivers Kevin Cummings and McDonough each found the winner's circle twice with McDonough and Smith each collecting two training scores.
Live harness racing resumes on Wednesday, May 8 at 2:30 p.m. with a 10-race card slated. There's a $4,034 carryover in the Pick 5, which begins in the second race.
(Buffalo Raceway)