Black Is Back left the field feeling blue in Buffalo Raceway's $13,000 Class AA-Open Pace on Saturday night with a neck win over Lucan Hanover in 1:54.3 over the fast track.
It was fourth straight victory for Black Is Back ($4.10) with the previous three decisions coming at Saratoga Raceway.
With his first start behind Black Is Back, David McNeight III got to the front early with him but saw Lucan Hanover (Billy Davis, Jr.) storm by and take control as they hit the opening quarter in :28.1.
"I think he (Black Is Back) wanted to cut the mile but he can race from behind," McNeight III stated getting the pocket trip.
That closing kick came in handy as Black Is Back blasted a :28.1 final quarter to help in topping the pace-setting Lucan Hanover. Upfront Countryboy (Shawn McDonough) was third.
"At the top of the stretch I knew I had a lot left but I wasn't sure I was going to get by Lucan Hanover who is a tough horse to pass," McNeight III said of the finish.
Co-owned by Mihajlo Zdjelar, Sr. and Curtis Edholm and trained by Mihajlo Zdjelar, Jr., the six-year-old gelded Black Is Back (Western Terror-Magic Moments) is now a winner of five races in 11 tries this season. The victory improved his 2019 earnings to $29,500 and $193,475 in his career.
Manceiver ($10.60) took the $11,000 Class AA pace with a wire-to-wire victory in 1:55.4 for Kevin Cummings.
Starting from the five post, Manceiver took right off from the wings and was able to set the tempo of :28.2, :57 and 1:26.2. The closers made belated moves in the stretch but Manceiver's advantage was too much to overcome. Western Conquest (Ray Fisher, Jr.) was second with China Dream (Davis, Jr.) taking third.
Owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Gerry Sarama, it was the seventh victory in 22 appearances for the five-year-old gelded Manceiver (Sportswriter-Swift N Shout). The win jacked his season winnings to $45,410 and $140,047 lifetime.
There were a pair of $10,000 Class A paces on the program with In Runaway Bay ($6.00) taking the first division in 1:55.1 for Morrill, Jr. while Whats Goin On ($3.90) rallied three-wide around the final turn in posting a 1:55.2 triumph under the guidance of Cummings.
Cummings remained red hot in the sulky with three victories while Morrill Jr. doubled. Sarama had a pair of training wins.
Racing will resume on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with a 12-race card slated. The New York Sire Stakes will be back as the two-year-old filly pacers will collide in a pair of $54,000 events. There will also be competition in the Excelsior A series and a non-betting affair in the Excelsior B division with post time for that race at 4:30 p.m.
(Buffalo Raceway)