On a day where the one-hole ruled the first six races, Ryans Caviar had a streak of his own.
Ryans Caviar entered Sunday with four straight victories, all by half a length or less, but today the 10-year-old SJs Caviar gelding had a much tougher group to face. Getting a very good draw off the claim in the four-hole, he showed that he could control the pace his own way.
After Somedancer Hanover broke before the start, Bit O Lavec set the early pace. Ryans Caviar (Shawn McDonough) dropped in behind the early pace as Ramblin Rick (Kevin Cummings), the Open horse, was parked to the opening quarter mark. The quarter was a little fast for the trotters in :28.4 over the fast track, but Ramblin Rick rolled up on the outside led to the halfway point slowing down the fractions.
At that point, McDonough decided it was time to pull Ryans Caviar to try to contend for the lead. By the time the field reached the three-quarters pole, Ryans Caviar was clear by two as Ramblin Rick had stopped. Ryans Caviar went on to win his fifth straight race in a rated 2:00.4. Bit O Lavec (Dave McNeight III) was a game second and Madimpulse Hanover came flying home to finish third.
“He has been very sharp as of late is in a really nice class,” said McDonough after the race. He went on to say, “This horse can take a ton of air and can come from anywhere.”
In other racing news, one of the three-year-old fillies scored her first victory since coming to Buffalo Raceway. Aroma (Artiscape-Cinnamon Reel-Cam Fella) scored very nicely in the 10th for leading driver Kevin Cummings and trainer Kirk Desmond. Aroma was bred in Maryland by Winbak Farm.
Racing continues at the Hamburg oval on Wednesday night with a first post of 5 p.m.
(Buffalo Raceway)