With the temperature reaching over 80 degrees at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (April 10), it was perfect "beach" weather, Santana Beach weather that is.
Rising through the ranks the past few weeks, Santana Beach found his new level, the $10,000 Class AA-Open Handicapped classification, just fine by rolling to a two-length victory over Southwind Onyx in 1:54.3, the fastest time of the 2021 meet.
Back on March 6, Santana Beach paced to a four-length score in the Class C division in 1:56.4. From there, it's been a steady climb with success found at each tougher division. After a victory last week in the Class A bracket, it was time for another jump for Santana Beach and it turned out to be another win.
Sitting third past the half, Santana Beach started his first-over journey and eventually went by the pacesetting Mr Ham Sandwich approaching the final panel. In the lane, Santana Beach strolled home to collect his third-straight victory and his fourth in his last five appearances. Southwind Onyx made a mild bid late to finish second while Stratosphere finished in third.
Owned by Jason Newell and trained by Richard Roth, it was the fourth win in seven tries for the six-year-old gelding Santana Beach (Santanna Blue Chip-Beachs Luck). The victory jumped his seasonal earnings to $16,614 and $192,585 in his career. Kevin Cummings drove the $15.40 winner.
Thor De Vie romped by four-and-three-quarter lengths in the $8,800 Class A pace by wiring the field for driver Kevin Cummings in a seasonal best of 1:54.4.
There was little drama in the event as Thor De Vie went the middle split in :56.3, which proved to be too much for the rest of the field. Loaded Deck took the runner-up position with Beachy Dream placing third.
Co-owned by trainer Jim Graham, Lee Winters, Giuseppe Micchia and Paul Tandlmeyer, it was the second win in seven starts this season for Thor De Vie (So Surreal-Pebblebeach De Vie). The victory took his 2021 bankroll to $14,408 and $275,058 lifetime.
Kevin Cummings led the way for the drivers with four wins with Ray Fisher Jr. adding a pair. Lee Dahn and Ryan Swift had training doubles.
Racing will resume on Wednesday evening (April 14) at 5 p.m. (EDT) with a 10-race card set. There will be a guaranteed pool of $3,000 in the Pick 5, which begins in the second race.
(Buffalo Raceway)