Fireyourguns may have misfired in his seasonal debut last week but he was fully loaded on Saturday night by wiring the field in Buffalo Raceway's $11,500 Open Pace in 1:52.1 over the fast track. It was just a fifth of a second off the all-time track mark of 1:52 set ironically by Fireyourguns in 2015.
In the co-featured $11,500 Open Trot, Empire Earl N ended a modest two-race winless streak by going coast to coast to beat a pesky Fox Valley Veto by a neck in 1:58.1, equalling his seasonal best.
Last week, Fireyourguns had a front end journey but stalled out in the stretch and finished sixth in 1:53.3. But that effort proved to be a perfect tightener.
Starting from the three post, driver Mike Caprio guided Fireyourguns ($3.00) to the lead and put up fractions of :27.3, :56 and 1:24.1.
In the stretch, Fireyourguns had threats coming from everywhere. Western Conquest (Ray Fisher, Jr.) and Bugatti (Billy Davis, Jr.) each were making charges late but had to settle for second and third respectively as Fireyourguns held on for the half-length victory.
Co-owned by trainer Terence McClory along with Jennifer and Robert Lowe, the victory by the nine-year-old gelded Fireyourguns (American Ideal-Villa Hanover) moved his lifetime earnings to $401,966.
Empire Earl N (Drew Monti) raced off the starting gate to get the early advantage, putting up a rather pedestrian :30 opening panel. With middle times of :59.4 and 1:29.1 splits, Empire Earl N ($6.80) had just enough left in the stretch to fend hold off Fox Valley Veto (Davis, Jr.) and BZ Glide (Caprio).
The win was the fourth in 12 tries this year for Empire Earl N (Earl-Santa Nita). The 10-year-old gelding is owned by Kimberly Asher and trained by Riley Asher-Stalbaum. The victory upped to seasonal winnings to $26,013 and $187,873.
Shawn Gray, Monti and Fisher, Jr. each had driving triples. Trainer James Clouser, Jr. conditioned a trio of winners.
Racing will resume on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with a 12-race program scheduled.
For more information including the latest news, simulcast schedule, upcoming promotions, race replays, results and entries, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.
(Buffalo Raceway)