Woodmere Rollnpop ($27.14) started to roll in deep stretch then popped a nose in front at the wire to post the upset victory in Buffalo Raceway's $15,139 featured conditioned pace on Friday afternoon, May 29.
Driven by David McNeight III and trained by Cassandra Johnson, the 12-1 shot nudged out the heavily favoured Egomania (Brett MacDonald) by a mere nose in a seasonal best 1:56.2 over the fast track while Kid From The Bronx (Ray Fisher Jr.) was third.
Kilowatt Kidd N (Drew Monti) watched Kid From The Bronx assume the early advantage but wanted no part of the pocket journey and went back to the lead. After fractions of :27.4, :57.2 and 1:26.3, Kilowatt Kid N braced for the attack from the first-over Egomania while Woodmere Rollnpop followed that cover around the final turn. With heads turning for home, Egomania was able to inch ahead briefly but Woodmere Rollnpop got into high gear on the outside and made a final surge at the line to escape with the narrow victory.
McNeight owns the nine-year-old gelded Woodmere Rollnpop (Rollwithitharry-Shadow Dancer), who was a multiple Maritimes stakes winner in his younger years. The victory was the pacer's second in seven starts this season and his 44th lifetime, increasing his bankroll to $285,932.
There were also pair of $15,139 trotting events on the program and driver Kevin Cummings swept both of them in wire-to-wire fashion aiding Sam Smith in a training triple.
Beacon Beach ($2.66) absolutely blitzed the field with an easy 12-1/4-length win over I Got The Looks (Dan Yetman) and Mass Market (Kyle Cummings) in a blistering 1:56.3. The six-year-old Resolve-Black Caviar gelding is owned by El Dorado Stables of Ft. Myers, Florida.
Then in the second division, Security Code S ($9.94) had no issues scoring a 1-1/2 gate-to-wire decision over Celtics Whitesox (Kyle Cummings) and Biscoe (James McNeight Jr.) in 1:59.1. The four-year-old by Chapter Seven out of Queen Paige has now won three races in a row at Buffalo for owner Jagged Brook Farms of Batavia, New York.
Prior to the co-featured trots, the Smith stable also picked up a victory courtesy of veteran claiming pacer Ideal Perfect Ten, a five-length winner in 1:55.4. Drew Monti was along for the ride in what was one of four driving wins for him on the 12-race card.
Kevin Cummings had three and David McNeight III posted a pair as did trainer Rachelle Mungillo.
Racing will continue on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with 13 races set to go to the post.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)