Golden Terror won the $10,000 Open Pace for the second straight week at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night and established a season's mark of 1:55.3. The victory was his sixth this year in 15 starts against Open company at the New York half-mile oval for owners Terri and David Esposito.
Golden Terror ($8), leaving from post five in the field of six and driven Dan Noble, settled in fifth as eventual third place finisher Real Gentleman and Dave McNeight III cut all the fractions in the race (:29, :58.4, and 1:27.3). As the field hit the top of the stretch, Golden Terror was just to the outside of Real Gentleman, and uncorked a :27.4 last quarter-mile to beat second place finisher Spender Hanover and Jack Flanigen by three-quarters of a length.
The five-year-old Western Terror gelding out of the Artiscape mare Bell Amis Love is trained by the meet's leading conditioner John Mungillo. The $5,000 share of the winning purse put Golden Terror’s seasonal bankroll at $40,209 and lifetime earnings at $111,601.
Racing will resume on Wednesday, May 2 with first post scheduled for 5 p.m Eastern time. It’s Derby Week, so plan on making all your bets at Buffalo Raceway, and get track odds. Advance wagering on the Derby starts on Friday, May 4, Kentucky Oaks Day, where you can play an Oaks-Derby double.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)