Driver Ken Holliday found the best way to combat the awful weather was to put your horse on the lead, and never look back. This method was instrumental in winning both the Open Trot, and The Filly and Mares Open Pace, each with a purse of $9,000 at Buffalo Raceway, for owner Betty Tauber of East Brunswick, New Jersey
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In the Open Trot, it was a repeat performance for A Work In Progress, who also won last week, in front running fashion. Setting fractions of :31.1, 1:02, and 1:34, A Work In Progress won for the third time this year. The final time of 2:04.2 was over a sloppy track with forty mile an hour winds. Three and one-quarter lengths behind in second were Keptinthecloset and reinsman Troy Boring, while Clearly Possessed (Jack Rice) came in third.
Trained by Ken’s wife Sherri, who is the leading trainer at Buffalo, the $4,500 share of the winning purse boosted A Work In Progress’ season bankroll to $20,225 and $74,684 lifetime.
In the Filly and Mares Open Pace, Jezzabell Hotspur, who was voted the top horse last month by the Upstate New York Harness Writers Association, beat Meadow’s invader Senorita Smoke (Kevin Cummings) by 2 ¾ lengths in 2:01, a very respectable time considering the conditions. Cutting fractions of :30.1, 1:01.1, and 1:31.4, it was the fourth win this year for Jezzabell Hotspur. Party News (Ray Fisher, Jr.) came in the show spot.
Also trained by Sherri Holliday, the winner’s share of the $4,500 purse put Jezzabell Hotspur’s 2009 bankroll at $24,075 and $215,684 lifetime.
Racing will resume on Saturday, April 4 with first post scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
It’s the championship round of the Buffalo Raceway Handicapping contest with a chance to go to the Meadowlands. Good luck to all.
(Buffalo Raceway)