HAMBURG, N.Y. --- No respect.
That's what Western Alumni has to be feeling the past two
weeks in the $10,500 Open Pace at Buffalo Raceway. While his feelings may be
hurt, the victories keep on coming.
For the second consecutive week, Western Alumni has proved
the betting public wrong, this time registering a 1-1/2 length win over Salazar
in 1:54.3 Saturday night (May 10).
Last Saturday, Western Alumni went gate-to-wire to win and
return $10.00. This time, it was a first over brush that sent the 6-year-old
gelding to a $14.20 victory.
Western Alumni was first over at the three-quarter marker
and took over the lead midway around the final turn. Salazar (Ron Beback Jr.),
who got shuffled in traffic just past the half, charged late in the lane to
finish second as Western Alumni had more than enough in the tank to spring the
upset once again. Sand Savage (Drew Monti) took the third place position.
The win was the second in 11 tries in 2014 for Western
Alumni (Western Hanover-Countryview Miss). He is owned by North Creek Racing
LLC and is trained by Jerry Nugent Jr. The win increased his winnings to
$20,520 this season and $162,502 lifetime.
Jim McNeight drove Western Alumni to the victory. It started
a streak of four straight wins for McNeight on the card.
While McNeight enjoyed a nice stretch, driver Shawn
McDonough was even better as he finished the night with five winners.
Racing returns to Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night with a
13-race program set to begin at 5 p.m.
For more information including race results, replays,
upcoming promotions and the latest news, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
