Under The Stars won the $11,000 Open Trot in 2:01.3 over a sloppy track at Buffalo Raceway on Friday night (May 10).
The win was the second in 12 attempts this season for Under The Stars, who was jumping up in class. The six-year-old Yankee Glide gelding is owned by Michael Calimeri of Falconer, New York.
Trainer-driver Jim McNeight put Under The Stars ($7.70), the 5-2 second choice in the betting, on the lead and he set fractions of :29.4, 1:01, and 1:31.3 to the three-quarter marker. A :30 last quarter-mile put the winner three-quarters of a length ahead of second-place finisher Hour Lavec (John Cummings Jr.) at the finish line. Ziegfeld (Dave McNeight III) came in third.
The $5,500 winner's share of the purse put Under The Stars’ seasonal earnings at $13,973 and lifetime bankroll at $104,286. The win was his 17th in 94 lifetime starts.
McNeight and John Cummings Jr. shared driving honours with three wins apiece on the card.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)