The thermometer at Buffalo Raceway read a brisk 19 degrees on Saturday night (March 4), but Gallant Seelster sure did make the mercury rise with an impressive victory in the featured $8,600 pace.
Tying the fastest mile of the 2017 meet with a 1:54.4 mile, Gallant Seelster (David McNeight III) went gate-to-wire and beat Shady City (Larry Stalbaum) by solid two and three-quarter lengths. A scorching :56.4 second half-mile, including a :28 last panel, was more than enough for Gallant Seelster to register the $5.50 win.
Starting from the five post, Gallant Seelster faced little resistance in setting the pace. After putting up splits of :29.1, :58 and 1:26.4, Gallant Seelster was waiting for some challengers in the lane, but there were no takers. Shady City managed to hang onto second-place while Babes I Scoot (Ray Fisher Jr.) was third.
Gallant Seelster (Stoneridge Regal-Gold Not Silver) is co-owned by Pete Kibler, James Costa and Courtney McNeight. David McNeight Jr. handles the training duties for the sevem-year-old gelding, now a winner of four races this season in nine appearances. Gallant Seelster has earned $20,578 in 2017 and $413,769 lifetime.
Shawn Gray and Ray Fisher Jr. had triples in the bike with Kevin Cummings and McNeight III each getting a double. Sabrina Clevenger, Maria Rice and Gerry Sarama each had two training victories.
Racing will resume on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. with 11 races scheduled.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)