It wasn't the featured event, but Summer Slash turned it into one.
The lone mare in the field, Summer Slash beat the boys in the $13,500 sub-featured pace and did so in grand style by breaking the four-year-old pacing mark for the mares at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (June 17) with a 1:54 trip.
It eclipsed the standard of 1:54.1 established on June 15, 2016 by Terrorcam. The time was also a lifetime best for Summer Slash, who beat One Off Delight A by 1-3/4 lengths.
In the compact field of five, reduced by the scratch of Black Is Back, American Trademark was the leader on the front end with times of :28.3, :58 and 1:26.1. Summer Slash was first-over and was on even terms with American Trademark with a quarter-mile to go.
Summer Slash then powered her way to the lead in the homestretch and used a :27.4 last panel to pull off the two -ength victory over One Off Delight A and put her name into the record book. American Trademark finished in third.
Owned by Ilovemyharnesshorsesummer and trained by Ryan Swift, Summer Slash (Downbytheseaside-Before The Poison) has now won five times in 10 starts this season. The victory upped her 2023 bankroll to $34,319 and her lifetime earnings to $58,890. Ray Fisher Jr. drove the $5.10 winner.
In the top race on the card, Casimir Richie P got the perfect-pocket journey in the $15,500 Open Pace and he turned it into a length victory over JMs Delight. He stopped the timer in 1:54.2, which equalled his seasonal mark.
The Open Pace was named the "Richard Mays Memorial Pace" to honour the longtime Western New York horseman who passed away on Sept. 7, 2022.
The field was trimmed to six participants as Avion Seelster was excused due to illness. Alta Engen A showed the way off the pegs and laid down reasonable fractions of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:26. With a quarter-mile to pace, Just Plain Loco, last week's Open winner, was first-over but his attempt to track down Alta Engen A fizzled out. Casimir Richie P, in the meantime, was just waiting to pounce from the pocket. When the flames cooled, he confidently roared onto the lead with a :28.1 final panel to do the trick. JMs Delight was able to sneak by Alta Engen A for second.
Owned by Michael Goldberg and trained by Teesha Symes, the eight-year-old Casimir Richie P (Astronomical-Casimir Hugs) earned his sixth win in 16 tries in 2023. The victory increased his earnings to $42,570 on the season and $462,428 in his lifetime. Joe Chindano Jr. drove the $8.40 winner.
McNeight III, Chindano Jr. and Morrill Jr. all notched doubles on the evening while Jennifer Giuliani had a pair of training wins.
Racing will resume on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. (EDT) with a 13-race card set. The New York Sire Stakes returns as three (approx. $35,000) divisions will be contested for the two-year-old filly pacers. There will also be a pair of $20,000 Excelsior Series races for the young ladies.
(Buffalo Raceway)