Upfront Countryboy got 'up front' early in Buffalo Raceway's $11,500 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday, Feb. 16 and never looked back when besting Dark Horse by one and a half lengths in 1:56 over the 'good' track.
Title Town was quickest off the gate in the main event but soon lost the top as Upfront Countryboy took over just before the opening panel. Dark Horse loosely challenged first over moving into the stretch but failed to menace and settled for second with Title Town holding third.
Owned by William Emmons and trained by James Clouser Jr., it was the first win in two starts for Upfront Countryboy (Dragon Again-Cambloid). The 10-year-old gelding has earned $6,670 this year and $446,090 in his career. Shawn Gray sat behind the $4.60 winner.
There were a pair of $9,500 co-featured paces on the under card. Mr Euroman N went gate to wire and turned back the late attempts by R M Hawk and Manceiver to take the victory in 1:57.0 in the first sub-featured event.
Leaving from the inside post, Mr Euroman N set fractions of :29.2, :58.3 and 1:28.0. He kicked home in :29.0 to hold off R M Hawk by a half length.
Driven by Billy Davis Jr. and trained by Maria Rice, Mr Euroman N (Art Major-Little Big Sister) is a seven-year-old gelding that is co-owned by the Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Pine Hill Racing LTD. It was the second victory in five tries this season for Mr Euroman N, now a winner of $9,950 in 2019 and $113,329 lifetime. He paid $4.80 to win.
In the second split, A F F Bigdaddy (Drew Monti) ground to a length victory over Im So Handsome in 1:56.3.
Going first over through the backstretch, A F F Bigdaddy slowly but surely cut into Im So Handsome's lead and took over command midway down the lane. Im So Handsome settled for second with Heaven Rocks finishing in third.
A F F Bigdaddy (Sir Luck-Artacam Hanover) is a six-year-old gelding owned by Jennifer and Marcus Rogowski. Conditioned by Steven Kiblin, it was the first trip to the winner's circle for A F F Bigdaddy, now a earner of $5,590 this year and $85,115 in his career. Driven by Drew Monti, he paid $5.10 to win.
Ray Fisher Jr. topped the drivers with four victories on the night. Monti tripled while Davis Jr. and Gray each won two. Mike Ohol, Maria Rice and Sabrina Clevenger all scored a pair of training wins.
Racing will continue on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. with a 12-race card scheduled.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)