After a miscue in her last start, HP Sissy ($4.50) rebounded impressively with an easy length victory over Kaitlyn Rae in a seasonal best 1:56 over the sloppy track in Buffalo Raceway's $11,500 Open Handicap Pace for the filly and mares on Friday night (April 5).
After breaking stride at the half in her last appearance on March 20, it was back to business for HP Sissy. It was a bit of a battle to get to the lead as four of the five entrants made early leave attempts. When things finally settled down just before the opening panel, driver Jim Morrill Jr. had HP Sissy on the point.
Setting fractions of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:27, HP Sissy remained stout down the stretch to take the decision. Kaitlyn Rae (Drew Monti) was second while You Mach Me Crazy (Billy Davis Jr.) captured third.
HP Sissy, now a winner five times in nine races along with three runner-up finishes, is owned by Finocchario's Dream Stable and is trained by Mike Ohol. The six-year-old mare (Up The Card-Monica Blue Chip) has earned $31,763 in 2019 and $282,899 in her career.
In the $10,000 Class A Open Trot, Keystone Apache, who also had troubles in his last start, was on his best behaviour and rallied late to beat a hard-charging Lougazi by a neck in 2:01.1 to register the $20.40 upset.
Avoiding three breaking trotters through the first three-quarters of the race, Keystone Apache was sitting seventh with a frame to go. Davis Jr. was able to swing Keystone Apache to the outside down the stretch and collared Empire Earl N and then held on as Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) was flying late but ran out of real estate.
Co-owned by the Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Pine Hill Racing LTD, Keystone Apache is four-year-old horse (Explosive Matter-Found An Angel) that is conditioned by Maria Rice. The victory, his third in 10 outings, upped his seasonal earnings to $22,850 and lifetime bankroll to $155,454.
Shawn McDonough had a pair of training and driving victories while Ohol conditioned two winners.
Racing will resume on Saturday night at 6 p.m. with a 10-race program scheduled. There will be a $336 carryover in the Pick-5, which begins in the second race.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)