Canadian campaigned Power And Grace ($5) continues to be a dominating damsel at Buffalo Raceway as she rolled to her seventh victory of the season with a 1-1/2-length win over Crazy Ritz in the featured $19,178 Open Trot on Friday afternoon, May 31. She covered the mile distance in a seasonal best of 1:56.3 over the fast track.
With the field scratched down to five with the dismissal of Con Air Hall, Power And Grace grabbed the early advantage and that was the beginning of the end for the other four competitors.
Stomping out fractions of :28.4, :58.1 and 1:28, Power And Grace (Drew Monti) was bracing for the mounting charges around the final turn from the first-over Crazy Ritz (Jim McNeight Jr.) and Gracious Triumph (Jim Morrill Jr.). But those rallies failed to materialize as Power And Grace smoothly trotted home for her 63rd career victory. Crazy Ritz held on for second while Gracious Triumph picked up the show spot.
Trained by Ron MacDonald and owned by Hartel Maintenance Inc., Lormer McClure, Brett MacDonald and Reg Higgs, the nine-year-old mare Power And Grace (Holiday Road-Mark Of Honour) has produced $72,166 in 2024 and $568,310 lifetime.
It was the third and final week of qualifiers in the Spring Up Series for trotters who were non-winners of $12,500 USD (fillies and mares $15,000 USD) and having 10 or more starts before May 13.
Morrill Jr. swept both divisions as Heavens Fury ($4.10) made it two straight wins in the series with a half-length nod over Pennant Seelster in 2:00.2 for trainer James Clouser and owner Shawn Beghtol. Trained and owned by Rachelle Mungillo, Caviars Yankee ($3.30) is now a perfect three-for-three in the competition as he defeated Jumpinthejailhouse by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:00.
Morrill Jr. and Kyle Swift completed the matinee program with three victories apiece with David McNeight III getting a double. Mihajlo Zdjedar Jr. conditioned a pair of winners.
Racing returns on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. with 11 races set to go to the post.
(Buffalo Raceway)