Mcvera took her fifth victory in six starts on the campaign with a narrow hard-fought win over a sloppy track in the $18,493 optional-claiming feature for fillies and mares, highlighting five winners for driver Drew Monti at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday, March 11. 

To start the season, Mcvera exploded onto the scene with four straight scores at Batavia Downs, sweeping the track's Winter Pacing Series. That win streak ended on Feb. 22 when she ventured to Saratoga Raceway, where she put in a game effort in finishing third. She returned to the win column while enjoying the comforts of home at Buffalo on Wednesday.

Sunonmybuns (Jim McNeight Jr.) took early control of the race with Wildcat Delight (Brett MacDonald) and Mcvera following along in second and third, respectively. With splits of :30.1 and 1:00.4 on the board, Mcvera began her first-over journey on the backstretch the final time. Down the stretch, Mcvera wore down Sunonmybuns, then held off Wildcat Delight, who came roaring down the lightning lane but came up a nose short. Rightfully Mine (Kyle Swift) got up for the third-place cheque. The winner covered the mile in 2:00.4 and paid $4.88 to win.

Owned by Robert Woodburn of St. Thomas, Ont. and trained by Taylor Fritz, the six-year-old Mcvera has now earned $212,403 in her career. The daughter of Mcardle-Designer Dreams is 22-for-95 lifetime. She paid $4.88 to win.

Monti's other wins on the 13-race card came with Final Game ($10.84), Shoobee Doo A ($4.16), Santana Beach ($7.64) and Mcnatural L ($6.90). The reinsman has been prolific so far this season with 28 wins from 113 starts for a 24.8 per cent win rate. He is coming off a career-best year in earnings and his second-best win total.

In the sub-featured $16,438 optional-claiming pace for the distaffs, Ladycorona ($95.10) shocked the field with a three-quarter-length decision over Major Megan in 2:00.1. Ladycorona got away seventh from post eight while Sonadora (Kevin Cummings) stepped out to the front in a :28.1 quarter. Ladycorona began to advance first-over through the half in :59 and pulled nose-to-nose with Sonadora at three-quarters in 1:29 before clearing her down the lane and holding off the belated bid from Major Megan (Jim McNeight Jr.). Bee Okay A (David McNeight III) was third.

Ladycorona is trained by Christopher Petrelli and is owned by Queen Of Hearts Stables of Ronkonkoma, N.Y. The six-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight-Whycantiforgetyou won for the first time in 2026 in five starts. The victory moved her lifetime earnings to $284,349 and her statline to 21-for-93.

Racing will continue at Buffalo on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with a 14-race card scheduled. There's a $1,117 carryover in the Pick 5 which starts in the second race.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)