It took 13 years, but Lord Stormont’s 1:58.4 three-year-old trotting track record set in 1997 at Buffalo Raceway is no longer valid
. That’s because last year’s two-year-old New York Sire Stakes champion Blacktuxwhitesocks was clocked in 1:58.1 for the Purple Haze Stables LLC last night.
“He felt great, and was well within himself,” said winning driver Jeff Gregory. “He (Blacktuxwhitesocks) did it all on his own.”
Leaving from Post 2 in the field of seven, Blacktuxwhitesocks ($2.90) settled in third as eventual second-place finisher Aruba Vacation (driven by Fern Paquet, Jr.) hit the quarter in :29.3. Gregory swung his trotter to the outside and the duo hit the half with the lead in :59.2. From there on it was 'pedal to the metal,' and the Credit Winner offspring won by one and a half lengths at the wire. A 101-1 longshot, Ultimate Athlete (John Stark, Jr.), came in third.
The $13,100 share of the winning purse put Blacktuxwhitesocks lifetime bankroll at $198,061.
Racing at Buffalo will resume on Friday, June 18, with the first post scheduled for 6:40 p.m.
(Buffalo Raceway)