HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Fast N Victorious was just that in the New
York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers while Skip Jive
remained unbeaten in his brief career to share top honors at Buffalo Raceway
Wednesday night (July 8).
In the first $54,500 division, Fast N Victorious ($5.70)
drafted perfectly behind the pace-setting Red Roll, who put up solid times of
28.3, 59.1 and 1:28.3. It was a ding-dong battle to the wire with Fast N
Victorious able to sneak past the stubborn Red Roll in the passing lane for the
neck win in 1:58. Brigadoon (Billy Dobson) finished in third.
"Red Roll was very competitive and we had to fight for
the win," Gregory said of the stretch drive. He added, "Fast N
Victorious is like a race car and he loves the small tracks."
Owned by the Jesmeral Stable and trained by Gregory, Fast N
Victorious (Art Major-Yankee Luck) rebounded nicely after a disappointing
second place finish in his only start in Sire Stakes action last week at
Monticello. The victory jumped his earnings to $35,891.
Skip Jive ($4.90) made it a perfect 2-for-2 in his young
career putting in another impressive performance in 1:57.1 in the second
division.
Being hung on the outside at the start, driver Mark
MacDonald stepped on the gas with Skip Jive and took command at the quarter
pole. Setting fractions of 28.4, 57.4 and 1:28.2, Skip Jive was ready for a
stretch battle from a threatening Joes On A Roll and Best Of Ribera.
But things fell apart quickly as Joes On A Roll broke stride
in the lane and interfered with Best Of Ribera, wiping out the chances both had
of a win. Those issues allowed Skip Jive to cruise off with a 3-1/4 length
victory. Carlos Danger (Jim Morrill Jr.) picked up the pieces for second place
while Fine Diamond (Matt Kakaley) placed third.
MacDonald said the race at Goshen on June 21 where Skip Jive
made a break at the start has turned him around. "We made a few equipment
adjustments after Goshen and it really helped him out." He went on
to say of Skip Jive, "He's a really nice horse. He was well in hand at the
finish."
Co-owned by the W. Springtime Racing Stable and Shannon
Brott, Skip Jive (Rock N Roll Heaven-Dancinwiththestarz) is trained by Paul
Kelley. The win pushed his two-race career winnings to $42,033.
In the $15,000 Excelsior Series 'A' races, KJ Erich ($3.60)
took the first division with a 1:58.3 mile for Gregory while Acting Out ($7.00)
posted a 2:00.0 winning mark for Mike Simons. Gregory, a native of nearby
Churchville, N.Y., finished the night with a double.
NY Whitesox ($7.50) took the $6,600 Excelsior Series 'B'
race by going wire-to-wire for Dobson in 2:02.
BZ Glide ($7.70) went from last to first and took the $10,500
Open Trot in a seasonal best 1:57.0.
After watching Justgottogetthere cut the fractions of 28.3,
58.0 and 1:27.4, BZ went three-wide down the backstretch and trotted away
smartly in the lane to post the 1-1/2 length win over Serious George (Shawn
Gray). Winkys Pride (Drew Monti) took the show position.
Owned by the Caprio Stable and trained by Alana Caprio, BZ
Glide (Yankee Glide-Bloomer Zoomer) has three wins in six starts in 2015,
earning an even $20,000 and $135,957 lifetime.
Country Delight (Jack Flanigen) nosed out Infrontigo Hanover
(Jim McNeight) to take the $9,500 Open II pace for the fillies and mares.
Country Delight toured the Hamburg half-mile oval in 1:56.1.
Racing will continue on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. with a
13-race program on tap.
For more information including the latest news, upcoming
promotions, race replays and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
