After three consecutive races out of post seven, Just Plain Loco got a rare start from the inside. He responded to the unique look of the pylons in favourable fashion as he wired the field in Buffalo Raceway's $15,500 Open Pace on Saturday night (April 29).
Just Plain Loco beat Artillery Major by 1-3/4 lengths in a seasonal best 1:54.4 over the "sloppy" track while Tony Too Tall collected the show spot.
Just Plain Loco let Tony Too Tall take the lead briefly heading to the opening panel but quickly zoomed back to the top, hitting the quarter in :28.4. From there, Just Plain Loco posted fractions of :57.4 and 1:26.4. In the final split, Ideal Artillery came up the outside and pulled within a length of Just Plain Loco but never got closer as the pacesetter was in cruise control.
Co-owned by Paul Lang and Mark Toth and conditioned by Jennifer Giuliani, seven-year-old gelded Just Plain Loco (Well Said-Symphony In Motion) earned his third victory in six starts on the season. The win moved his 2023 earnings to $36,458 and career total to $432,903. Dave McNeight III drove the $5 winner.
In the $13,500 pace, Avion Seelster went coast to coast and posted a popular and convincing $2.20 score for driver Jim Morrill Jr. in 1:55.1 over a track labelled "good." Cultural Paradise took second-place honours with Sweet N Fast N rolled in for third.
Since arriving at Buffalo Raceway on March 15, Avion Seelster has three wins, a pair of seconds and a third in his six outings.
Scoring from the post three, Avion Seelster wasted no time in racing to the top. He registered fractions of :28.2, :57.3 and 1:27. The times proved to be enough to keep the other seven entrants at bay for the entire mile as Avion Seelster notched the length decision.
Owned by Marissa Russo and trained by David Russo, five-year-old gelding Avion Seelster (Sportswriter-Aqua Rosa) earned his fourth win of the campaign from 15 starts. The win moved his seasonal bankroll to $37,372 and lifetime earnings to $217,972.
Morrill Jr., Kyle Cummings and James McNeight all had driving doubles on the abbreviated program while Jim McNeight had two training victories.
Buffalo Raceway officials called off the final three races on the program due to unsafe track conditions caused by rain.
Racing will continue on Wednesday afternoon (May 3) at 2:30 p.m. (EDT) with an 11-race card scheduled.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)