Upfront Countryboy rebounded from a pair of narrow runner-up finishes to take the $10,500 Open Handicap Pace at Buffalo Raceway in 1:55.1 on Saturday, March 23.
After watching Beachy Dream take the lead briefly, Upfront Countryboy regained the top before stopping the timer at the quarter pole in :28.2. From there, driver Shawn McDonough kept Upfront Countryboy on task and used a :57.2 back half mile to keep the remaining five combatants at bay. Beachy Dream finished in second while Heaven Rocks took third.
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Owned by William Emmons and trained by James Clouser Jr., it was the second victory in seven tries for the 10-year-old gelding Upfront Countryboy, by Dragon Again-Cambloid. The win increased his seasonal earnings to $17,295 and a stellar $456,715 lifetime.
In the sub-featured $9,500 Class A Handicapped paces, there were no surprises as A F F Bigdaddy blasted the field in 1:54.2 while Bugatti had to hang on late to post the victory over Harry Hoo N in 1:56.2.
A F F Bigdaddy had no issues bottoming out the field as he set fractions of :28.3, :57.0 and 1:26.1 to overpower his seven competitors. Rebel Voyager finished four-and-three-quarter lengths back in second while Rose Run Voyager took third.
A F F Bigdaddy, by Sir Luck-Artacam, was owned by Jennifer and Marcus Rogowski and trained by Steve Kiblin but was claimed out of the race for $15,000 by Steve Andzel III. The six-year-old gelding has earned $16,090 and $95,615 lifetime. Drew Monti drove the $3.60 winner.
Bugatti enjoyed a three length edge at the top of the stretch but finished narrowly in front of hard charging Harry Hoo N, who took second by a neck, in the other event. China Dream rolled in for the show spot.
Owned by Keith Pinkowski and conditioned by Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr., it was the first victory in five appearances this season for the six-year-old gelded Bugatti, by Mach Three-Blinker Hanover. The score upped his 2019 earnings to $9,029 and $244,271 in his career. Kevin Cummings drove the $4.70 winner.
Cummings kept his torrid streak going with a five-bagger while McDonough and David McNeight III had doubles. David McNeight Sr. had a pair of training wins,
Racing will resume on Wednesday, March 27 with a 13-race card slated for 5 p.m.
(with files from Buffalo Raceway)