It's been a trying couple of months for Lip Reader A, but on Saturday, June 28, in Buffalo Raceway's $21,918 Open Handicap Pace, he made himself heard loud and clear with a resounding two-length victory over Annapolis Hanover in a seasonal best 1:53.2.
After winning the Buffalo Raceway Open back on April 19, Lip Reader A (Drew Monti) had a pair of scratches due to illness and a couple of out of the money finishes at Tioga Downs. But now things appear to have turned around.
Scoring from the inside post, Lip Reader A ($7) fired right off the starting gate to take the lead and registered fractions of :27.1, :55.2, and 1:24.1. Those splits proved to be too tough for several challengers as they dropped back at the three-quarter pole in surrender. Annapolis Hanover (Kyle Cummings) and Davey Day Trader (David McNeight III) tried to cut into the three-length edge Lip Reader A established turning for home but could only trim the margin by a length. Annapolis Hanover finished second over Davey Day Trader.
Co-owned by Vogel & Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing LLC, the 11-year-old gelded Lip Reader A (Sportswriter-Strike Line) is trained by Maria Rice. Lip Reader A has now earned $38,210 and won three of nine starts on the season and $330,608 lifetime with 38 victories in 149 outings.
The feature victory highlighted a five-win afternoon for Monti, the track's leading driver. His first win in the fifth race with Twin B Crunch Time ($5.70) kicked off a natural hat trick as he then scored with Rockette Baby ($4.20) in the sixth and Great Service ($3.10) in the seventh. After the Open Pace win, Monti took his fifth tally in the 13th race with Whatca ($4.10).
Jim Morrill Jr. matched Monti on the day with five wins of his own. The reinsman's winners were Out On Bail ($4.40), Ponda Shark ($3.20), Mikey Camden ($3.30), Handsoffmytitos ($7.70), and I Aint No Mack ($7.10).
Samuel Smith notched three wins in the training department. His winners were Out On Bail, Handsoffmytitos, and I Aint No Mack.
Racing will return to Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with a 14-race card. The New York Sire Stakes will take center stage with a $110,200 USD event for the two-year-old filly trotters. There will also be a $20,000 USD Excelsior Series race for the lady sidewinders.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway; photo of Lip Reader A winning on April 19)