For the second week in a row, Mach Ten, a five-year-old International Chip gelding out of the Valley Victory mare Meadowbranch Mary, won the $10,000 Open Handicap Trot at Buffalo Raceway, this week in 1:59.1
, for owner Dianne Mahiques of Angola, New York. It was the fifth win this season for Mach Ten.
Mach Ten ($4.90) the favourite in the race, leaving from Post 7 and driven by reinsman Kevin Cummings, settled in fifth as eventual second place finisher Perfect Man (Dave McNeight III) cut all the fractions in the race -- :28.3, :59.4 and 1:29.3. At the top of the stretch, Mach Ten put an explosive :29.3 last quarter-mile to win by five and a quarter lengths. Crown Prince Volo (Jim McNeight) came in third.
Trained by Michelle Gramza, the $5,000 share of the winning purse put Mach Ten’s season’s bankroll at $37,894 and $78,768 lifetime.
Racing will resume on Saturday July 16, with first post scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Saturday is Back To The Track day at Buffalo Raceway.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)