A pair of $10,000 opens, along with summer like conditions greeted the horses and drivers at Buffalo Raceway Friday night (July 8). In the Open Trot, Mach Ten, a five-year-old International Chip gelding out of the Valley Victory mare Meadowbranch Mary, won in 2:00.3
for owner Dianne Mahiques of Angola New York. It was the fourth win this season for Mach Ten, who has been campaigning on the Windsor-Hazel Park circuit this year.
Mach Ten ($4.70) leaving from Post 5 in the field of seven, and driven by reinsman Kevin Cummings, made every pole a winning one, cutting all the fractions in the race, :30, 1:00.2 and 1:31.1. A :29.2 last quarter-mile put the winner four lengths ahead of second place finisher Bankers Dream (Keith Kash, Jr.) at the finish line. Go To Jo (Chris Page) came in the show spot.
Trained by Michelle Gramza, the $5,000 share of the winning purse put Mach Ten’s season’s bankroll at $32,894 and $73,768 lifetime.
In the $10,000 co-feature Filly and Mares Open Pace, Wild West Angel, made it two wins in a row with a come from behind victory in a season’s tying best 1:56 for owners Black Magic Stables LLC of Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Wild West Angel ($5.30), driven by regular driver Jamie Dunlap, made a strong backside brush to pass second place finisher Roca Rockette (Ron Beback, Jr.) just passed the three-quarter-pole. Early pacesetter Pebble Run (Keith Kash, Jr.) came in third.
It was the 11th win this season for the Western Terror mare. Trained by John Mungillo, the $5,000 share of the winning purse put Wild West Angel’s season bankroll at $53,659 and $130,289 lifetime.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)