Western Alumni had a pair of second place finishes the past two weeks in the $10,500 Open Pace at Buffalo Raceway, but Saturday night (July 12) he got a chance to pose in the winner's circle once again.
Driver Jim McNeight and Western Alumni played give-and-go with Big Unit to the opening quarter marker and managed to set the pace with times of :28.3, :58 and 1:26.4. Big Ears made a bobble around the clubhouse turn the final time and scattered the field somewhat, leaving the front-running Western Alumni to battle Big Unit (Drew Monti) and Rock N Roll Legend (Kevin Cummings) to duke it out the last quarter mile.
Through the stretch, a determined Western Alumni managed to hold the off the pair thanks to the urging of McNeight. Rock N Roll Legend finished in second with Big Unit taking the show spot.
Western Alumni (Western Hanover-Countryview Miss) is owned by North Creek Racing LLC and is trained by Jerry Nugent Jr. It was his fifth win in 20 starts in 2014 and upped the six-year-old gelding's earnings to $43,260 and $185,379 lifetime.
Racing will continue on Sunday afternoon with a 1:05 p.m. post. It's 'Back To The Track' at Buffalo Raceway with free programs, t-shirts, sno-cones, cotton candy and pony rides. The New York Sire Stakes is also in town with the two-year-old pacing fillies taking to the track.
(Buffalo)