Lip Reader A silenced the pacers in Buffalo Raceway's $18,919 Open on Saturday night (April 6) by putting in a devastating performance against six rivals. He beat Better Take It by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:53.2 over the fast track while Optical Illusion N was third.
Since arriving from Australia, Lip Reader A has three victories in just five starts in the United States along with a second and third-place finish. The 1:53.2 was a career best in his brief stints thus far at Buffalo Raceway and Yonkers Raceway.
Runrunjimmydunn N was the early pacesetter, but before the field hit the opening marker, Better Take It (Kevin Cummings) swooped by the leader and posted an opening split of :28. With an opening half of :56 in the books, Better Take It was preparing for the onslaught about to come from Lip Reader A.
Sitting sixth rounding the clubhouse turn the final time, Lip Reader A began a giant brush down the backstretch, easily picking off horses one by one. With a quarter-mile to pace, Better Take It and Lip Reader A broke away from the pack and were ready for the duel down the stretch.
It didn't take long, however, for Lip Reader A to show his dominance as he powered himself to the lead and left Better Take It in his wake. A final quarter of :28 sealed the deal for Lip Reader A.
Co-owned by Vogel & Wags Nags LLC and Team Rice Racing, the 10-year-old gelded Lip Reader A (Sportswriter-Strike Lane) is trained by Maria Rice. The win upped his 2024 earnings to $36,729 and his career total to $209,246.
Joseph Chindano Jr. topped the drivers with three victories on the card while Cummings and Jim Morrill Jr. each doubled.
Racing will resume on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with a 12-race program to be presented.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)