Rebel Voyager toured the Buffalo Raceway half-mile oval in a season's-best 1:54 to take a one-and-a-quarter length decision over Upfront Countryboy in the co-featured $12,000 Open Pace on Saturday, April 13.
The victory was the third straight win for Rebel Voyager and his fifth in eight appearances.
Starting from post five, Rebel Voyager and driver Billy Davis Jr. had little resistance in stepping to the lead and put up blazing fractions of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:25.1 which took the starch out of the field. No one came close to Rebel Voyager in the lane as Upfront Countryboy took the place position while Manceiver was third.
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Co-owned by the Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and the Pine Hill Stable LTD, Rebel Voyager (Shanghai Phil-Pan Voyage) is a five-year-old gelding that is trained by Maria Rice. The win upped his seasonal bankroll to $26,146 and $132,331 lifetime. He paid $7.90 to win.
In the other co-main event, Golden Gesture and driver Ray Fisher Jr. zoomed straight to the top and faced no threats the rest of the way to post a $38.20 win over Beachy Dream in 1:55.4. Golden Gesture used :28.2, :57.3 and 1:27.0 splits off the rail and was looking for any challengers in the lane but found no takers when producing a length victory. Beachy Dream took the second place check with Andys Ideal cruising into third.
Golden Gesture (Shark Gesture-Black Gold Mindale) is trained by Mike Ohol and owned by Finocchario's Dream Stable. The 6-year-old gelding, now a winner twice in 12 starts, has produced a bankroll of $18,158 this year and $168,734 in his career.
In the two $10,000 splits of the Class A Pace, Down On My Luck ($3.70) made his debut at Buffalo Raceway an impressive one by blitzing the field by eight lengths in a snappy 1:54.2. In the other division, driver Shawn McDonough and Harry Hoo N ($6.40) wore down Im So Handsome late to take a nose victory in 1:55.4.
Monti finished the evening with four victories in the bike while Cummings had three and Billy Davis Jr. two. Gerry Sarama and Angelo Nappo each conditioned a pair of winners.
Racing will continue on Wednesday evening, April 17 at 5 p.m. with a 9-race card scheduled.
(with files from Buffalo Raceway)