A pair of $10,000 Opens along with chilly spring-like conditions greeted the horses and drivers at Buffalo Raceway Friday night
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In the Open Trot, Perfect Man, a six-year-old Malabar Man gelding out of the Nearly Perfect mare Perfectly Swift, won in 2:00 for owner Michael Ouriel of Rochester, New York. It was the second win this season for Perfect Man, whose winning time established a new season’s mark.
Perfect Man ($14.40) leaving from the pylons in the field of eight, and driven by reinsman Ray Fisher Jr., made every pole a winning one, cutting all the fractions in the race (:29.3, 1:00.2, and 1:30.3). A :29.2 last quarter-mile put the winner one and three-quarter lengths ahead of second place finisher Credit Press (Troy Boring) at the finish line. Australian Stock (Ron Beback, Jr.) came in the show spot.
Trained by Rose Russo, the $5,000 share of the winning purse put Perfect Man’s season’s bankroll at $26,025 and $149,982 lifetime.
In the $10,000 co-featured Filly and Mares Open Pace, Wild West Angel jumped up in class and made it five wins in a row with a come from behind victory in a season’s best 1:56 for owners Black Magic Stables LLC of Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Wild West Angel ($24.80), dismissed by the bettors at 11-1, and driven by regular driver Jamie Dunlap, made a strong backside brush to pass second place finisher Artistry In Rhythm (Chris Page) in the stretch. Pacesetter Newberry Winner (Jack Flanigen) came in third. It was the seventh win this season for the Western Terror mare.
Trained by John Mungillo, the $5,000 share of the winning purse put Wild West Angel’s season bankroll at $31,259 and $107,889 lifetime.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)