Faithful Desire used a rocket-like move down the backstretch the final time and that maneuver launched her to a solid four-length victory Wednesday night (March 15) in Buffalo Raceway's $17,500 Open Pace for the fillies and mares.
Sitting sixth just past the half, Faithful Desire and driver Kevin Cummings went first over eagerly, quickly gobbling ground as she went from five lengths back to two lengths in front in just a quarter of a mile. Faithful Desire then left little doubt heading down the lane as she notched a :27.4 final panel to dispose of the second-place finisher Dragon Sparks. Candys Desire and Ideal Chip finished in a dead heat for third.
Owned by Eva Saintcross and conditioned by Shawn McDonough, the nine-year-old Faithful Desire (Real Desire-Faith Ann) earned her third win in seven attempts this season. The victory jacked her 2023 bankroll to $27,179. She paid $14.40 to win.
Chasethecloudsaway, driven by Joseph Chindano Jr., was chased the entire mile but no one could catch her in the $13,100 sub-featured event for the distaff pacers.
Going off as the heavy favourite, Chasethecloudsaway took full advantage of the inside post position, racing out to the lead and parking Princesa Alta along the way. Putting up splits of :29, :58 and 1:28.1, Chasethecloudsaway only had to deal with eventual runner-up She Can Party down the lane and did so with relative ease. She was able to stroll off to a dialed-down 1-1/4-length win in 1:57.1. Ruthmae Hanover took the show spot.
Co-owned by David Del Pozzo and trainer Christopher Petrelli, the six-year-old Chasethecloudsaway (Sunshine Beach-Janns Bid) earned her second victory in four tries this season. The win moved her earnings to $11,470 on the year. She paid $2.40 to win.
There were several $11,200 events for the trotters and pacers to spice up the program.
In the initial trotting encounter, Explosive Leggs ($8.80 to win) and Dan Yetman made a last-gasp lunge at the wire and nipped the favoured BJ Anthony by a nose in 2:01.3.The second bracket had CR Blazin Beauty ($3) and Kevin Cummings rolling to their second straight decision with a neck score over Megabank K in 2:00.
On the $11,200 pacing side, Bank The Win ($3.50) banked her second consecutive victory with a season's best 1:56.1 win over Fox Valley Charliz while Free Flyin Ticket ($2.30) went gate to wire and crushed the field by open lengths in 1:56.
Cummings completed the evening with four winners in the sulky while Matthew Athearn and Chindano Jr., who made his Buffalo Raceway debut, doubled. McDonough and James Rothfuss posted training doubles.
Racing will resume on Saturday evening (March 18) at 6 p.m. (EDT) with a 13-race program slated.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)