Ontario-bred trotting mare Whats The Point ($20.14) made her point loud and clear to the gentlemen in Buffalo Raceway's featured $15,139 conditioned optional claiming trot on Friday, June 5 as she wired the field.
Starting from the inside post, Whats The Point and driver David McNeight III took immediate control of the race and notched fractions of :30.1, 1:00.3 and 1:30.3. Turning for home, Whats The Point was still in command by a length as the pocket-sitting Biscoe (James McNeight Jr.) had every opportunity to go past but couldn't find an answer. Whats The Point beat Biscoe by a length in 2:00.1 over the fast track. Alonso (Ray Fisher Jr.) got up in time for third.
Owned by trainer Maria Rice along with Jack Rice of Lancaster, New York, the five-year-old Whats The Point (Lookslikeachpdale-Points Of Inquiry) earned her second (consecutive) victory in 11 tries as she showed the jump in class wasn't going to phase her. She now has 18 career wins and $156,724 in lifetime earnings.
The other $15,139 trotting event went to Said N Done As ($8.36), driven by Brett MacDonald, as he defeated Flight Number One (Cory Kreiser) by a half length in 1:59.2 while Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) was third. Flight Number One had the lead at the three-quarter marker but Said N Done As was first-over and managed to collect the victory. It was a bittersweet score for Said N Done As's connections of trainer Shawn McDonough and owner Dr. Joshua Tanis of South Lyon, Michigan, as the seven-year-old My MVP-High Musclemass gelding was claimed out of the race for the $20,833 asking price by Barry Franklin.
In the co-featured $15,139 pacing division, Kid From The Bronx ended his near misses with a 1-3/4-length decision over Memphistennessee N in 1:56.4. After a second-place and three third-place finishes in his last four appearances, Kid From The Bronx dictated the race as he led from start to finish with fractions of :29.2, :59.1 and 1:27.4 for driver Kevin Cummings. Memphistennessee N (Drew Monti) tried in vain to collar the front-stepper but to no avail. Mask On Mask Off (David McNeight III) was third. Returning to the Dakota Jackson stable off a claim in his last start, the six-year-old Huntsville-Apricot Sour gelding won in 1:56.4 for owner Jaclyn Giuliani of Orchard Park, New York.
Kevin Cummings finished the day with four driving victories while Monti got three and McNeight III a pair. Darrin Monti posted a pair of training wins.
Racing will return on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. with a 14-race program.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)