Buff recorded his first Open Trot score of the season at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Sunday afternoon (July 15) as the Jackie Greene trainee out-trotted the favourite home in the final eighth of a mile.
The Open field was reduced to five horses after a pair of scratches and when one rival broke at the start, Buff wound up in the pocket spot in the early going. The race’s front-runner, Crazycat (Bruce Aldrich Jr.), was tested by the favoured Cash Me Out (Billy Dobson), who moved first-over on the leader before overpowering him past three-quarters that went in 1:25.3 in the $14,500 feature. Cash Me Out took over the lead turning for home but Buff came roaring out of the pocket and trotted right past the favourite before stopping the timer in 1:55.1 to record his first victory in the local Open Trot this season.
Buff, who was driven to victory by Frank Coppola Jr., paid $15.80 to win while pulling off the Sunday upset while Cash Me Out had to settle for second-place this week. On Thunder Road N (Wally Hennessey) came on to earn the show spot. The exacta with Buff over the favoured Cash Me Out returned $41.
The five-year-old Credit Winner gelding is owned by Bill Reepmeyer LLC, Jackie Rousse Stables LLC, and Frank & Jill Witz.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)