by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y.--- Lutetium is a known front-runner and
Justgottogetthere is a known closer. You figured something had to give. Nothing
did.
The pair couldn't settle their differences as Lutetium and
Justgottogetthere finished in a dead heat for the victory in 1:58.3 over the
fast track in the $8,500 conditioned trot at Buffalo Raceway Wednesday night
(March 18).
Lutetium, starting in the eight post with Kevin Cummings in
the sulky, managed to get to the lead while Justgottogetthere (Jim McNeight)
was able to drop into the garden spot behind the pace-setter. Lutetium set the
splits with times of 29.1, 59.1 and 1:28.9.
It boiled down to a two-horse race down the stretch with
Lutetium ($6.50) begging for the wire while Justgottogetthere ($5.10) was
charging on the outside. Nothing was settled in the photo as the pair battled
to a draw. The Bronx Bumper (Jim Morrill Jr.) finished in third.
Lutetium, a 16-time winner in 2014, hit the winner's circle
for the first time in 2015 after four previous attempts. The 8-year-old gelding
is owned by Collen Girdlestone and trained by Mark Laidlaw.
Justgottogetthere has now won four out of seven starts this
season. He's a 6-year-old gelding owned by Antonietta Landi and North Creek
Racing with Jerry Nugent Jr. the conditioner.
In the co-featured $8,500 pace for fillies and mares, it
took another photo to separate the winners but his time the picture produced a
victor as Sadie's Place ($12.60) had just enough in the tank to hold of
Fiftyonefifty by a head.
Sadie's Place (Shawn Gray) had little trouble reaching the
top from the four post. Settling back and enjoying the crisp Western New York
air, Sadie's Place notched fractions of 28.4, 58.2 and 1:27.4 and welcomed any
challengers.
Watching the action from second place, Fiftyonefifty was the
lone threat and made a charge late in the lane but ran out of real estate,
coming up a head short. Bad Girl Vegas (Drew Monti) took the show position.
With the win, the second in nine tries in 2015, Sadie's
Place has earned $13,110 this season and $322,090 lifetime. The 10-year-old
mare is owned by Barry Franklin and trained by Darren Taneyhill.
Racing will continue on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. with a
12-race program on tap.
For more information inlcuding the latest news, upcoming
promotions, race replays and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
