Shady City ($2.60) finally broke the second-place blues by capturing the $10,000 Open Pace at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (May 20). Shady City had finished a heart-breaking second in four consecutive starts in Open competition.
It wasn't easy for Shady City (Larry Stalbaum) to get re-acquainted with track photographer Steve Roth as he needed a seasonal best of 1:54.3 over the fast track to get the first-place cheque. He beat Gallant Seelster (David McNeight III) by one and a quarter lengths while Pan Street USA (Ray Fisher Jr.) took the show spot.
It was a mad dash to the opening quarter as Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) went three-wide to wrestle the top from Shady City and Pan Street USA in a :27.3 first panel. Settling in and putting up the next two fractions of :55.3 and 1:25, Fireyourguns ran out of ammunition in the stretch.
Shady City, enjoying the pocket trip, slipped down into the passing lane and was the strongest of all in getting to the finish line first while a hard-charging Gallant Seelster was second-best.
Owned by Stalbaum and trained by Kim Asher, the seven-year-old gelded Shady City (Metropolitan-Maid In Shade) has four wins in 17 starts. The win increased his 2017 earnings to $36,536 and lifetime bankroll to $267,113.
Stalbaum finished the night with four victories while Fisher Jr., Jim Morrill Jr. and Drew Monti produced doubles. Asher had three training wins.
Racing will resume on Wednesday night with an 11-race program set for 5 p.m.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)