A pair of $10,000 Opens, along with very windy conditions, greeted the horses and drivers at Buffalo Raceway Friday night
With a thawing track, and two days in the 50’s, track Superintendent Dave Dylo, did a remarkable job getting the track ready for racing. The track condition was listed as "good."
In the Open Trot, Dover Downs invader Perfect Man, a six-year-old Malabar Man gelding, won in 2:01.4, for owner Michael Ouriel of Rochester New York. It was the first win this season for Perfect Man, who won $56,095 last year.
Perfect Man ($25.00) leaving from Post 5 in the field of eight, and driven by reinsman Jack Flanigen, settled in sixth as eventual second place finisher Shoe In (Ken Holliday) cut the early fractions, :29.3 to the quarter and 1:01.1 to the half. Just past the half, Perfect Man swung to the outside and a strong backside brush put Perfect Man in the lead at the three-quarters in 1:32.2. A :29 last quarter-mile put the winner a head in front at the wire. Noble Commander (Ray Fisher, Jr.) finished third.
Trained by Neal Russo, the $5,000 share of the winning purse put Perfect Man’s season’s bankroll at $11,125 and $135,082 lifetime.
In the $10,000 co-feature Filly and Mares Open Pace, Artistry In Rhythm made it three Open wins this year as the nine-year-old chestnut mare won in a season’s best 1:58.4, for owner Betty Tauber of East Brunswick New Jersey.
Artistry In Rhythm ($25.60), dismissed by the bettors at 11-1, and driven by regular reinsman Ken Holliday, came first-over after settling in seventh, and cruised to an easy three length win over Pembroke Primo (Kevin Cummings). Newberry Winner (Jamie Dunlap) came in the show spot.
Trained by Sherri Holliday, the $5,000 share of the winning purse put Artistry In Rhythm’s season bankroll at $17,500 and $349,155 lifetime.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)