After five straight defeats in strong cheque-getting efforts, Face The Shadows finally faced the camera in the winner's circle after taking the featured $19,028 optional-claiming pace for the fillies and mares at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday, May 27. 

There was a mad scramble to the lead as Face The Shadows (Kevin Cummings), Think Of Galaxies (Brett MacDonald), Mcvera (Drew Monti) and Bolt Of Beauty (Dave McNeight III) battled four-wide into the first turn. Face The Shadows, third from the rail in that grouping, reached for the top on the backstretch before releasing Think Of Galaxies, who was four-high early, past the quarter in :28.2. Think Of Galaxies put up middle fractions of :58.1 and 1:27.4 and turned for home under attack from Utopia Blue Chip (Dale Spence).

The field spread six across the track as they spun off the last turn, with five foes in pursuit of a weary Think Of Galaxies. The pocket-sitting Face The Shadows used the passing lane to cruise by the pacesetter and out-sprint the rest for a 1:57.3 victory by three-quarters of a length. Mcvera closed to nab second over Think Of Galaxies.

Face The Shadows took her third victory in 14 starts on the season for owners El Dorado Stables and Mike Torcello. Samuel Smith trains the daughter of Shadow Play-Face To Face, who is now 14-for-101 lifetime with $233,503 in earnings. The winner returned $10.34.

McNeight III had the hot hands in the sulky with four victories on the 13-race card. Monti had a triple and Kevin Cummings a pair of wins. Corey Kreiser, Shawn McDonough and Smith posted two training wins each.

Racing will continue at Buffalo on Friday at 2:30 p.m. with a 12-race card scheduled.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)