Fast N Victorious was just that in the New York Sire Stakes for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers while Skip Jive remained unbeaten in his brief career to share top honours at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (July 8).
In the first $54,500 division, Fast N Victorious ($5.70) and trainer/driver Jeff Gregory drafted perfectly behind the pacesetting Red Roll (Kevin Cummings), who put up solid times of :28.3, :59.1 and 1:28.3. It was a ding-dong battle to the wire with Fast N Victorious able to sneak past the stubborn Red Roll in the passing lane for the neck win in 1:58. Brigadoon (Billy Dobson) finished in third.
"Red Roll was very competitive and we had to fight for the win," Gregory said of the stretch drive. He added, "Fast N Victorious is like a race car and he loves the small tracks."
Owned by the Jesmeral Stable, Fast N Victorious (Art Major-Yankee Luck) rebounded nicely after a disappointing second-place finish in his only start in Sire Stakes action last week at Monticello Raceway. The victory jumped his earnings to $35,891.
Skip Jive ($4.90) made it a perfect two-for-two in his young career putting in another impressive performance in 1:57.1 in the second division.
Being hung on the outside at the start, driver Mark MacDonald stepped on the gas with Skip Jive and took command at the quarter-pole. Setting fractions of :28.4, :57.4 and 1:28.2, Skip Jive was ready for a stretch battle from a threatening Joes On A Roll and Best Of Ribera. But things fell apart quickly as Joes On A Roll broke stride in the lane and interfered with Best Of Ribera, wiping out the chances both had for a win. Those issues allowed Skip Jive to cruise off to a three and a quarter length victory. Carlos Danger (Jim Morrill Jr.) picked up the pieces for second-place while Fine Diamond (Matt Kakaley) placed third.
MacDonald said the race at Goshen Historic Track on June 21 where Skip Jive made a break at the start has turned him around.
"We made a few equipment adjustments after Goshen and it really helped him out." He went on to say of Skip Jive, "He's a really nice horse. He was well in hand at the finish."
Skip Jive (Rock N Roll Heaven-Dancinwiththestarz) is trained by Paul Kelley and owned by the W. Springtime Racing Stable and Shannon Brott. The win pushed his two-race career winnings to $42,033.
In the $15,000 Excelsior Series 'A' races, KJ Erich ($3.60) took the first division with a 1:58.3 mile for Gregory while Acting Out ($7.00) posted a 2:00 winning mark for Mike Simons. Gregory, a native of nearby Churchville, New York, finished the night with a double.
NY Whitesox ($7.50) took the $6,600 Excelsior Series 'B' race by going wire-to-wire for Dobson in 2:02.
BZ Glide ($7.70) went from last to first and took the $10,500 Open Trot in a seasonal best clocking of 1:57.
After watching Justgottogetthere cut the fractions of :28.3, :58 and 1:27.4, BZ went three-wide down the backstretch and trotted away smartly in the lane to post the one and a half length win over Serious George (Shawn Gray). Winkys Pride (Drew Monti) took the show position.
Owned by the Caprio Stable and trained by Alana Caprio, BZ Glide (Yankee Glide-Bloomer Zoomer) has three wins in six starts in 2015, earning an even $20,000 and $135,957 lifetime.
Country Delight (Jack Flanigen) nosed out Infrontigo Hanover (Jim McNeight) to take the $9,500 Open II Pace for the fillies and mares. Country Delight toured the Hamburg half-mile oval in 1:56.1.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)