Newberry Winner, a seven-year-old Village Jove mare, won the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace in 1:57.4 for owner Howard Ouriel of Rochester, New York at Buffalo Raceway Friday night (March 18)
. It was the second win of the season for Newberry Winner, and the winning time established a new season’s best.
Newberry Winner ($11.20). leaving from Post 2 and driven by reinsman Jack Flanigen, made every pole a winning one setting all the fractions in the race, :28.4, :58.2, and 1:28.3. A :29.1 last quarter-mile put the winner a head in front of second place finisher The Grey Filly (Ron Beback, Jr.) at the finish line. Dappers Flash (Jamie Dunlap) came in third.
“The front end was the place to be tonight,” said Flanigen. “She fought really hard right to the wire.”
Trained by Neal Russo, the $5,000 share of the winning purse put Newberry Winner’s seasonal bankroll at $12,750 and lifetime earnings at $203,419.
The National Harness Handicapping Championship (NHHC) has started and horseplayers can enter every Saturday in March. The entry fee is just $20 and players can win a trip to the Meadowlands for the finals.
Harness racing will resume on Saturday, March 19 with first post scheduled for 6:40 p.m.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)