Former WEG circuit competitor Golden Terror has yet to miss the board among the Open ranks at Buffalo Raceway and on Saturday night the five-year-old Western Terror gelding found the winner's circle in the $10,000 top class in a season’s best 1:58.3 over a sloppy track
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After scoring his first Buffalo win in the Open II last week, Golden Terror moved up into the Open to double up for his new connections, meet leading trainer John Mungillo and local owners Terri and David Esposito.
Golden Terror ($4.80), leaving from Post 3 and driven by last year’s national dash champion Dan Noble, settled in third as Cam Patch (Shawn Gray) hit the quarter-mile marker in :28.2. Noble didn’t wait long in the three-hole as he took Golden Terror to the lead and hit the half in :58, and then three-quarters in 1:28.2. At the top of the stretch, it was still anyone’s race as five horses still had a chance to win, but Golden Terror prevailed by a head over second place finisher Goochs Bad Boy (John Cummings, Jr.). Cam Patch was another three-quarters of a length back in third.
The $5,000 share of the winning purse put Golden Terror’s bankroll at $15,909 for 2012 and $87,301 lifetime.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)