by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Owner Leonard Segall and trainer James
Clouser Jr. must have told drivers Kevin Cummings and Jack Flanigen to put the
pedal to the metal off the gate in the $10,500 Open and $9,500 Open II paces.
Their charges, Youwillwishyouhad and Big Bossman, each used quick starts to
waltz to gate-to-wire victories in sweeping the early daily double at Buffalo
Raceway Saturday night (July 18).
Youwillwishyouhad ($4.70) found little trouble wiring the
field in the Open with a 1:55.2 clocking while Big Bossman ($2.80) was totally
in charge of the Open II with an impressive 1:54.3 journey over the fast
Hamburg half-mile oval. The chalky triumphs returned $8.20 on a $2 early double
wager.
After suffering a disappointing nose loss in last week's
Open Pace, Cummings put Youwillwishyouhad right to the lead and dared the
remaining field of five to track him down. Instead they ended up battling for
minor spoils.
With fractions of 27.4, 56.3 and 1:25.4, there were no
serious takers in the stretch as Youwillwishyouhad cruised home to a 3/4 length
decision over Western Alumni (Jim McNeight) while Rockstar Temper (Monti)
closed fast to take third.
It was the ninth victory in 19 outings for the 4-year-old
gelded Youwillwishyouhad (Artiscape-Dawn's Ideal). He has now put $51,048 in
the bank in 2015 and $117,445 lifetime.
The heavily-favored Big Bossman was certainly the boss in
the Open II.
With Flanigen in the sulky, there was no resistance in
reaching for the lead for Big Bossman at the start and that resulted in big
trouble for the remaining five entrants. With splits of 28.1, 47.0 and 1:26.1,
Big Bossman was never threatened seriously in the 1/2 length score over Mister
Icon (McNeight). I C D Moolah (Ron Beback Jr.) placed third.
It was the third straight win for Big Bossman (Feelin
Friskie-Lovely American) and his fourth in his last five appearances. The
4-year-old gelding has earned $25,068 this season and $97,615 in his career.
The third race was a wild one to say the least as the three
longest shots on the board took the top three positions. Ponyta Boy (Beback
Jr.) turned in a lifetime best time of 1:55.2 and returned $51.50 in the upset
win while Veto Hanover (60-1) finished second and American Bull (90-1) took the
show spot. The $1 exacta paid $568 and the $1 trifecta was worth $2128.50.
Racing returns on Sunday afternoon with a 12-race program
set for 1:05 p.m. The New York Sire Stakes will highlight the card with a pair
of $51,900 races scheduled for the 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
For more information, including race replays, results,
upcoming promotions and the latest news, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
