Rose Run Ranger usually finds success on the front but he had no trouble rallying from behind on Saturday, May 25 to win the $12,000 Class AA Pace at Buffalo Raceway.
Front-stepping Fireyourguns returned to action after a year layoff and immediately went to his typical spot, setting the pace. While Rose Run Ranger settled into sixth and last, Fireyourguns posted splits of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:25.4 off the bench.
But driver Ray Fisher Jr. and Rose Run Ranger started their drive heading to the half and eventually rolled past Fireyourguns in the lane, winning by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:55.1 over the good track. China Dream was third.
Co-owned by the Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Rose Run Ranger, a six-year-old gelding by Major In Art-A And Gs Finest, is trained by James Clouser Jr. The victory moved his 2019 winnings to $37,885 and $112,861 in his career.He paid $10.60 to win.
In the $11,500 Class AA Pace, Western Passage relinquished the lead to Littlebitaclass just before the opening panel but kicked home in the stretch to capture a one-and-a-quarter length victory in a seasonal-best 1:54.
Littlebitaclass played give and go with Western Passage and set the fractions of :28.2, :57.1 and 1:26.1. But at the top of the stretch, driver Kevin Cummings tipped to the outside with Western Passage and used a :27.3 last quarter to secure the win over Littlebitaclass. Upfront Countryboy rallied late to take third place.
Western Passage (Sportswriter-Ever Western) is owned by the Finocchario's Dream Stable and is trained by Mike Ohol. The victory upped his season earnings to $23,791 and $229,275 lifetime. He paid $7.60 to win.
There were a pair of $10,000 Class A paces on the under card. Manceiver and Kevin Cummings went wire to wire, holding off A F F Bigdaddy by a length in 1:54.3 to notch the $7.70 decision in the first bracket. The other division went to Western Conquest as Fisher Jr. guided him to an easy one-and-a-quarter length win over Next Success in 1:55.3. He paid $4.90 to win.
Shawn McDonough led the way for the drivers with three wins while Fisher Jr., Ron Beback Jr. and Cummings each had two victories.
Racing will resume on Wednesday evening, May 29 at 5 p.m. with a nine-race program. A $285 carryover in the Pick-5 that begins in the second race.
(with files from Buffalo Raceway)