Beachy Dream watched China Dream do all the legwork then reaped the reward by taking Buffalo Raceway's featured $12,000 Class AA-Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night (June 13) in a seasonal best 1:54.3 over the 'fast' track.
Though the victory turned bittersweet as Beachy Dream, entered for a $25,000 tag, was claimed out of the race by Marissa Russo, Stuart Oppenheimer and Glasser Racing LLC.
China Dream cruised to the lead and registered fractions of :28.3, :57.4 and 1:26. Sitting in the pocket turning for home, Beachy Dream dove into the open stretch and pinned a one-and-three-quarter length win on China Dream. Brunello N finished third.
Beachy Dream (If I Can Dream-Beachy Girl) was owned by Michael Torcello and trained by Gerry Sarama. The nine-year-old gelding has now earned $27,450 in 2020 and $266,030 in his career thanks to four wins in eight outings. Kevin Cummings drove the $7.90 winner.
Hold The Gold got the gold medal in the $11,000 Class AA Pace with a coast-to-coast journey in 1:54.3, beating Polak A by one-and-a-quarter lengths. It was one of five victories on the program for driver Jim Morrill Jr.
Hold The Gold, after setting splits of :28.4, :57.1 and 1:26.1, was under siege with a quarter mile to go, but Morrill Jr. kicked things into another gear and was able to turn back Polak A and third-place finisher Percys Z Tam.
Owned by William Emmons and trained by James Clouser Jr., Hold The Gold (Allthatsgltrsisgold-Village Joy) nabbed his third win in nine outings. The six-year-old gelding has bankrolled $18,690 on the season and $106,151 in his career. He paid $3.00 to win.
In the first of two $10,000 Class A paces, Class Six made his first start since arriving from Miami Valley a huge success by wiring the field in 1:54. He easily turned back Brookdale Fletcher by one-and-a-half lengths with Stratosphere collecting the show spot.
Driven by Morrill Jr. and trained by Sabrina Shaw, Class Six (Western Ideal-Can Du River) is owned by Eric Prevost. The nine-year-old gelding collected his first win in 10 starts on the campaign and now has put $17,710 in the bank this season and $396,216 lifetime. He paid $2.80 to win.
Sizzling Summer didn't disappoint in the other division as Davis Jr., who had a driving double, steered him to the win over Motor Shark in 1:56.2. Raylan Givens rallied to grab the show dough.
It was the first start of the season for Sizzling Summer (Sportswriter-Electric Smile). Trained by Maria Rice and co-owned by Vogel Wags Nags, Team Rice Racing and Adelphi Bloodstock, the win jacked his career winnings to $73,724. He paid $3.50 to win.
Lee Dahn had the hot hand for the trainers on the evening with a triple.
Racing will continue on Wednesday evening (June 17) at 6 p.m. (EDT) with a 12-race program scheduled.
(Buffalo Raceway)