It's been quite a week for Buffalo Raceway's leading driver Billy Davis, Jr. First, he went over the $20 million mark in career purse earnings and then on Saturday night he celebrated his 33rd birthday with six victories including the two main events.
"I've had a pretty good go of it lately," Davis Jr. said of the big week that has included 10 victories in the past three cards at Buffalo Raceway. "It was a pretty good birthday."
Davis, Jr. captured the $13,000 Class AA-Open Pace aboard Lucan Hanover ($5.90) as they posted a length triumph over Western Passage and he also collected the win aboard China Dream in the $11,000 Class AA Pace.
After a pair of heart-breaking second place finishes by a neck in his previous two tries, Lucan Hanover completed the task this time with a gate-to-wire score in seasonal best 1:53.2.
Posting fractions of :28.2, :57.1 and 1:25.1, a :28.1 last frame by Lucan Hanover kept Western Passage (Denny Bucceri) at bay at the wire. Black Is Back (David McNeight III) took the third place position.
"It felt like the old Lucan Hanover," Davis Jr. said. "Last week he was coming off a two-week break and I figured he might be short. Tonight he coasted along pretty good."
Co-owned by the Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and the Pine Hill Racing Stable LLC, it was the fifth win in 21 starts for Lucan Hanover (Western Ideal-Lauren Order). The nine-year-old gelding has now produced $39,649 in winnings this season and pushed his career bank to $1,199,665.
China Dream has been earning his keep with plenty of second and third place finishes but he finally got the winner's share of the purse after registering a 2-1/4 length nod over Western Conquest (Ray Fisher, Jr.) in the $11,000 Class AA pace. China Dream ($21.60) toured the mile in a season's best 1:54.4. Rose Run Ranger (Ron Beback, Jr.) took the show position as Lots Of Lovin was disqualified from third to fifth due to interference.
Since the beginning of May, China Dream has had a second and four third place finishes. He broke the dry spell thanks to a hard-charging :27.2 final quarter mile which secured his fourth victory of the campaign.
Co-owned by trainer Maria Rice and Jack Rice, it was the fourth win in 20 outings for the 8-year-old gelded China Dream (If I Can Dream-China Art). The win upped his bankroll to $37,030 on the year and $320,217 lifetime.
In the $10,000 Class A pace, Lucky Nadotremblay (Shawn McDonough) tied his lifetime best with a 1:53.4 and turned back Race Me Rocky (Billy Davis, Jr.) by 1-1/2 lengths. He win was worth $9.30 to his backers.
Shawn McDonough had a pair of driving and training victories while Maria Rice conditioned a pair of winners.
The final two weeks of the 2019 campaign will begin on Wednesday night with a 12-race card set for 5 p.m. The New York Sire Stakes will highlight the program as the two-year-old colt and gelding pacers will clash in a pair of $52,000 divisions. There will also be action in the Excelsior A and B Series.
(Buffalo Raceway)