Scenic Adventure had a bit of an adventure in Buffalo Raceway's feature, a $16,575 conditioned optional claiming pace for the fillies and mares, on Wednesday, May 28, but things worked out perfectly in the end.
After settling into third place after the start, Scenic Adventure (Jim Morrill Jr.) motored to the front to take command away from Bettor B Sawyer (James McNeight Jr.). But the action didn't stop on the point as Bettor B Sawyer flip flopped again with Scenic Adventure through fractions of :28.4, :58 and 1:27.2.
Down the lane, Bettor B Sawyer was in desperate need of the wire but Scenic Adventure was able to come back again from the inside to score the narrow win by a neck in a season's best 1:56.3 over the 'good' track. Ellas Reason A (Kevin Cummings) charged hard at the line and picked up the third-place cheque.
The adventure for Scenic Adventure didn't end after the race as she was claimed by Curtis Edholm for $19,726.
Scenic Adventure (Racing Hill-Adventurepan) was owned by Michael Torcello and trained by Alex Giuliani. Her third triumph in 15 seasonal starts upped her 2025 earnings to $40,874 and lifetime bankroll to $159,872.
She paid $5.70 to win as the bettors' choice.
There were a pair of $14,384 paces for the ladies on the undercard.
Always Choose Chip took the first event by registering a 2-3/4-length victory over Shake Me Loose in a seasonal best of 1:56.1 over the 'good' track. It was the second straight win for Always Choose Chip, who returned $10 at the betting windows.
Starting from the rail, McNatural L (David McNeight) pounced for the early lead but Always Choose Chip (Kyle Cummings) regained the lead approaching the opening quarter pole. After splits of :29.1, :58.4 and 1:28, Shake Me Loose (Drew Monti) got within a length turning for home but couldn't generate a comeback after that as Always Choose Chip crossed the line comfortably in front. Moneymakehersmile (Kevin Cummings) took the show position.
Co-owned by Kyle Cummings and Matthew Miller, the seven-year-old Always Choose Chip (Always A Virgin-Hanks Chip) is trained by Tammy Cummings.
In the other division, Big Bad Mosa (Jim Morrill Jr.) tried to bottom out the field but ran out of gas just a few strides from home which allowed Shooting Brooke (Denny Bucceri) to take a head victory in 1:57.1. She paid $11.20 to win.
Big Bad Mosa had opened up eight lengths on the field but approaching the three-quarter marker, she saw that edge dwindle away. Shooting Brooke stayed the course and began gobbling up ground through the lane and eventually got by Big Bad Mosa in the shadow of the wire. Arco N (David McNeight III) was fourth but was placed third due to the disqualification of A Black Diamond (Michael Baumeister).
Owned by Jeffrey Greenberg and conditioned by David Weston, Shooting Brooke (Straight Shooting-Fox Valley Brooke) earned the first win of her seven-year-old campaign in 14 tries.
Racing will continue on Friday, May 30 at 2:30 p.m., with a 12-race card.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)