Strong Hope ($5.10) remained razor sharp and proved it by lowering his own track record in winning the $10,000 Open Trot in 1:56.3 over the fast track at Buffalo Raceway on Friday night (June 17).
He beat his own standard of 1:57.1 (aged male horses five years and up) set this season on April 16. Strong Hope has now won four times in his last eight starts to go along with a trio of second-place finishes.
It was the sixth time this year a track record has been rewritten at Buffalo Raceway.
With the field scratched down to five, Cold Certified tried to cut the mile with splits of :29.1, :59 and 1:28. But with a quarter-mile to trot, Cold Certified called it a night and the first-over Strong Hope (Ray Fisher Jr.) powerfully took command and never looked back in the stretch, putting away the field with a :28.3 last panel.
The battle for the minor spoils went to Serious George (Mike Caprio), who finished three and three-quarter lengths behind the winner, while Northern Matador (Jim Morrill Jr.) took third.
Owned and trained by Joe Agostino, Strong Hope (Cr Excalibur-Spring Lane Joanie) is a nine-year-old horse who has six wins in 20 attempts this season. The victory upped his 2016 winnings to $43,516 and lifetime bankroll to $557,660.
Fisher Jr. and Drew Monti each had triples in the bike while Angelo Nappo and Agostino each doubled.
Racing will resume on Saturday night at 6 p.m. with a 10-race card scheduled. The Pick 5 has a $993 carryover starting in the fifth race.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)