There was little suspense for Endeavors Pride ($14.20) in his latest 'endeavor' at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (Feb. 5) as he led every step of the way in collecting a 1-3/4 length victory over Paprike Blue Chip in the featured $12,500 conditioned pace.
In the co-featured $12,800 Open II-III Trot, Warrawee Windsor ($4.40) utilized the same tactics Endeavors Pride did a few races earlier, going gate-to-wire and never looking back in defeating Pilgrim Caviar by 2-3/4 lengths in 2:02.2.
The opener saw driver Kevin Cummings wasting no time in firing Endeavors Pride to the top from post 4 in the field of six. Registering fractions of :31, 1:01.1 and 1:31.3 over the "good" track, Endeavors Pride had no issues heading down the lane as the remaining five horses just spun their wheels, failing to make any headway.
Endeavors Pride stopped the timer in 2:00.4 as Paprike Blue Chip rallied late for second with Major Authority taking the show position.
Owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Gerry Sarama, it was the first score in two appearances for the eight-year-old gelded Endeavors Pride (Keystone Endeavor-Gingerbread Square). The victory pushed his seasonal earnings to $7,726 and $245,195 lifetime. He paid $14.20 to win.
Warrawee Windsor found no problems in touring the Buffalo Raceway half mile oval in victorious fashion.
Beginning from post 2, Warrawee Windsor briefly tucked into the pocket. When Warrawee Shipshape, who was driving toward the top, broke stride around the first turn, driver Drew Monti made the decision to go with Warrawee Windsor and zoomed past the early tempo-setting Pilgrim Caviar.
With splits of :31.2, 1:01.4 and 1:32.2, Warrawee Windsor stayed on task the final quarter of a mile and cruised to the win. Pilgrim Caviar maintained second place with Castyourcrown finishing in third.
Co-owned by Rocco Stebbins and Ben Ortiz, Warrawee Windsor (Royalty For Life-The Tall Poppy) is trained by Joe Skowyra. The gelded four-year-old has now won three times in four starts in 2022, producing $15,600 on the season and $60,869 lifetime.
James McNeight Jr. posted a driving triple on the evening with Kevin Cummings and Monti getting two wins each. Russell Bratt, Jim McNeight and Skowyra all had two training victories.
Buffalo Raceway and the Western New York Harness Horsemen Association announced a purse increase starting on Wednesday, (Feb. 9). Horsemen can view the condition sheet to see the new purse levels at buffaloraceway.com.
Racing will resume on Wednesday night (Feb. 9) at 6 p.m. (EST) with a nine-race program to be presented. With no one hitting the Pick 5 on Saturday, there will be a $5,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick 5 beginning in the second race.
(Buffalo Raceway)