My Tallia Ideal and driver David McNeight III knew if they wanted to win Buffalo Raceway's featured $10,000 Open Pace for the mares on Wednesday night (February 1), their best chance was going to come on the front end.
That tactic proved to be ideal as My Tallia Ideal set all the fractions and turned back Kaitlyn Rae to win by three and a quarter lengths in 1:57.2 over the 'good' track.
The favoured and front-running Wanna Rock N Roll, who was assigned the six post, entered the event on a five-race win streak. It began like it might be an instant replay of previous races by Wanna Rock N Roll as driver Drew Monti went straight to the top off the starting gate with her.
But that advantage was short-lived as My Tallia Ideal, who started on the pylons, wanted no part of a pocket trip and retook the lead on the give-and-go.
Setting the splits of :29, :59.2 and 1:28.1, My Tallia Ideal ($5.40) put away the fading Wanna Rock N Roll in the stretch and cruised off to the comfortable victory. Kaitlyn Rae (Larry Stalbaum), the winner of last week's Open for the ladies, was second with Missevil (Shawn Gray) taking third in the battle for minor spoils.
Co-owned by Pete Kibler, Ken Owczarczak and Courtney McNeight, the seven-year-old mare (Western Ideal-Bolero Tallia) scored her first victory in four attempts this season. The win pushed her seasonal earnings to $7,900 and lifetime bankroll to $260,803. David McNeight Jr. handled the training duties.
Drew Monti each finished the night with a four-bagger, Stalbaum had a triple while Ray Fisher Jr. had a double.
Trainer David Russo found the winner's circle three times with JD Perrin, Rose Russo and Kimberly Asher each producing a pair of victories.
Racing will resume on Friday night at Buffalo Raceway with 11 races set to go to the post at 5 p.m.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)