Patience paid off perfectly for Studio City in Buffalo Raceway's $10,000 Open Trot on Friday night (July 1) as the seven-year-old gelding waited until deep stretch to put away Serious George by a neck in a seasonal-best 1:58.
Studio City (David McNeight III), who started from the pylons, took some of the starch out of Noble Legend by parking him to the quarter-pole in :29.3. Noble Legend held on to the top spot until the three-quarter marker as the first over Serious George (Mike Caprio) took command at that point.
But things weren't settled yet. Waiting until the final turn to make his winning move, Studio City ($13) fanned out three-wide and eventually wore down the stubborn Serious George late to score the narrow victory. Noble Legend (Kevin Cummings) managed to secure the show spot.
The win was the second straight for Studio City, who jumped up into Open company after posting a one and a half length decision last week in a Winner's Over event.
Co-owned by Scott Woogen and Lisa Denison, the Winbak Farm-bred Studio City (Conway Hall-Yagot Prestige) is trained by Lisa Lederhouse. The win was his third in 14 starts this season, pushing his earnings to $21,346 and $248,045 lifetime.
Todd Cummings completed the night with a driving triple while Shawn McDonough and Kevin Cummings posted doubles. Trainer JD Perrin conditioned a pair of winners.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)