Mugshots Bro and driver Jim Morrill Jr. showed a lot of restraint in Buffalo Raceway's $15,000 Open Trot on Friday afternoon (June 3) and that patience paid off with a 1-1/4 length victory over CR Blazing Beauty in 1:57.3 over the fast track.
It was the fourth consecutive win for Mugshots Bro ($3.10) and the second straight in Open competition.
CR Blazin Beauty, one of two mares in the field, took the early lead and parked out Photo Bomber along the way. With fractions of :29, :57.4 and 1:26.4, it appeared that CR Blazin Beauty was going to bottom out the field as she opened up what looked to be an insurmountable six-length advantage heading to the three-quarter marker.
But Mugshots Bro, who was sitting in third, sat back and waited for CR Blazing Beauty to hopefully hit the wall. And she did. Beginning his serious rally approaching the final marker, CR Blazin Beauty started to tire as Mugshots Bro easily cut into the lead.
Down the stretch, CR Blazin Beauty was now on fumes and Mugshots Bro rolled on by for what turned out to be a convincing win. Franks Watching (Ray Fisher Jr.) was able to get up for third.
Co-owned by Herman Niedhammer and Herman Niedhammer Jr. and conditioned by Shawn McDonough, it was the fourth win in five attempts for the 10-year-old gelded Mugshots Bro (Jailhouse Jesse - Photo Emmy). The victory jumped his 2022 earnings to $26,565 and $307,550 lifetime.
In the $11,300 trot, Bjanthony made it two consecutive victories to continue his climb back up the condition ladder with a coast-to-coast win over Daylon Phantom in 1:58.
After cruising to a 3-3/4 length decision off the rail in a $9,200 trotting event at Buffalo Raceway last week, Bjanthony (Morrill Jr.) found smooth going once again from the pylons. Pete Stamas took the early lead but Bjanthony wasted no time in regaining the lead and posted fractions of :29.3, :59 and 1:28.3.
There weren't any challengers for Bjanthony down the stretch as he coasted home to a two-length victory. Daylon Phantom (McDonough) won the battle for second with Simonthediamond (Dan Yetman) taking third place.
Co-owned by Terence Miller and Mark Keller, Bjanthony (Credit Winner - La Tapatia) is a 10-year-old gelding trained by Jennifer Giuliani. The victory, the fourth in 13 appearances on the season, pushed Bjanthony's earnings to $25,079 and $333,579 lifetime.
Morrill Jr, completed the afternoon with two wins while McDonough and Giuliani each had a pair of training victories.
Live harness racing will continue on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. with a 10-race program scheduled.
(Buffalo)