It's been nearly six months since Black Is Back went to the winner's circle, but he made it 'back' there on Saturday night (May 8) after taking a three-quarter length win over Mr Ham Sandwich in Buffalo Raceway's $10,500 Class AA-Handicapped Pace.
The last time Black Is Back had a photo opportunity was on Nov. 28, 2020 when he won the $8,500 Open I Pace at Batavia Downs. Last week, Black Is Back suffered a tough three-quarter loss to Mr Ham Sandwich but was able to turn the tables on him this time around.
Taking control from the start, Black Is Back posted splits of :29, :57.2 and 1:26.2 over the "fast" track. Things got interesting in the stretch drive with Mr Ham Sandwich taking dead aim on the leader, but Black Is Back gutted it out to hit the wire first. Endeavors Pride took the show position.
Co-owned by Curtis Edholm and Mihajlo Zdjelar Sr. and conditioned by Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr., it was the first win of the 2021 campaign in three outings for Black Is Back. The eight-year-old gelding (Western Terror-Magic Moments) has produced $7,900 in earnings this year and $296,775 lifetime. Shawn McDonough drove the $4.70 winner.
In the co-featured $10,200 Class A-Open Handicapped Trot, Stormont Rare continued his dominance as he captured his fourth-straight victory at Buffalo Raceway when taking a three-quarter length win over Mugshots Bro in 1:57.4.
A field of five were slated to battle in the trotting main event, but Before I Die scratched to cut the field down to four. At the start, Mr Quaker jumped it off, leaving just Majestic Kat, Mugshot Bro and Stormont Rare left to duke it out.
Majestic Kat showed the way through the first three panels with splits of :29, :58.4 and 1:28.2. But turning for home, Majestic Kat broke stride. Stormont Rare inherited the lead and had no problem in beating Mugshots Bro. Majestic Kat regrouped to take third place.
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Owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Gerry Sarama, it was the fourth win in 11 starts for the 5-year-old gelded Stormont Rare (Glidemaster-Stormont Fried). The victory upped his seasonal earnings to $19,805 and $20,379 in his career. Jim Morrill Jr. drove the $4.70 winner.
Morrill Jr. had four victories in the bike, while McNeight III picked up three wins and McDonough getting a pair. Sarama had four training victories while Cassandra Johnson notched her first win as she conditioned Daylight Rush ($4.90) to victory in the fifth race.
Racing will resume on Wednesday night (May 12) at 5 p.m. (EDT) with an 11-race program set. There will be a $5,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick 5, which begins in the second race.
(Buffalo Raceway)