by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Valorscross continued his impressive climb up
the trotting ranks at Buffalo Raceway Wednesday night (March 4) as the
4-year-old gelding made it a perfect 5-for-5 on the season with a neck victory
over Justgottogetthere in the featured $9,500 trot in 2:00.2 over the sloppy
track.
It was a great night for Buffalo Raceway's leading driver Kevin
Cummings as well as he registered seven victories on the night.
Arriving from Woodbine to start his 2015 campaign, Valorscross
($4.50) began the year at the $3,200 level at Buffalo Raceway and has passed
every stiffer test along the way. Wednesday night was his biggest challenge yet
but scored another A+.
After watching Northern Spark and Aruba Vacation battle it out to
the quarter pole in 29.2, Valorscross (Cummings) could wait no more and took
command and put up a time of 1:02 to the half and 1:30.4 to the three-quarter
marker.
Justgottogetthere (Jim McNeight), in the meantime, started a first
over trip to the three-quarter marker, bringing Armed Dangerously in tow to get
within striking distance.
In the stretch, Justgottogetthere managed to poke a head in front
but the never-say-die Valorscross battled back to regain the lead and score the
neck win. Justgottogetthere finished second while Armed Dangerously (Jim
Morrill Jr.) took third..
Valorscross (Comaro Dasolo-Poppea) is owned by Guy Polillo and is
trained by John Mungillo. The victory pushed his bankroll to $13,050 this
season and $114,074 lifetime.
In the co-featured $8,700 Fillies and Mares Open II Pace,
Justatequilatalkin (David McNeight III) rallied to put a head in front in the
shadow of the wire and nip SA Lowe (Morrill Jr.) in 1:59.2.
The race was basically a three-horse break away with a
quarter-mile to pace as Cameron Luck set the fractions. Justatequilatalkin and
SA Lowe both stalked the pace throughout and made their moves in the
stretch.
Cameron Luck (Kevin Cummings) checked out midway down the lane to
finish third while SA Lowe went to the passing lane and Justatequilatalkin went
to the outside to duke it out.
It was a ding-dong battle to the line and when the dust settled,
it was Justatequilatalkin ($10.80) getting a head in front while the favored SA
Lowe had to settle for second.
Owned by the Limerick Racing Stable and trained by Daivd McNeight
Jr., it was the third straight victory for 6-year-old mare Justatequilatalkin
(Real Desire-Sausalito Cocktail) and moved her yearly winnings to $8,860.
Racing will return at Buffalo Raceway on Friday night with a
13-race program set for a 6:35 p.m. post.
For more information including race replays, results, news and
upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
