by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- When Cobble Beach has been scoring
victories at Buffalo Raceway the past three weeks, it has been in gate-to-wire
fashion. But in the $10,000 Open Pace on Saturday night (Feb. 13), Cobble Beach
($9.90) had to go last to first route to score a thrilling upset win over
Youwillwishyouhad in 2:00.3 over the good track.
Being assigned the seven post, Cobble Beach (David McNeight
III) settled back and watched as Lucky Nadotremblay (Shawn McDonough) set the
fractions of 29.1, 1:00.0 and 1:31.1.
Going by the half mile, Cobble Beach managed to grab the
cover of the first over favorite Southwind Terror and was able to eventually
get into perfect striking position at the top of the stretch. Tipping
three-wide, Cobble Beach was tracked down the tiring Lucky Nadotremblay and
held off Youwillwishyouhad (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) by a neck. China Dream (Jack
Flanigen) got up for third with a late rally through the passing lane.
Owned by Leonard Segall and trained by James Clouser Jr., it
was the third win in four tries in 2016 for Cobble Beach. It pushed the
6-year-old gelding's seasonal earnings to $15,004 and $192,671 lifetime.
In the quarter-finals of the Niatross Knockout Claiming
Series, Aberarder Smitty posted the fastest winning time in the four divisions
with a 2:00.0 mile. Other scoring victories were Beechwood Wayne (2:01.4),
Delightful Caitlin (2:03.4) and First Of Fun (2:01.1). The top four finishers
in each leg will return for the semi-finals on Saturday night.
Todd Cummings finished the night with three victories in the
sulky while Mike Baumeister and David McNeight III each doubled.
Clouser Jr. and Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. each had two training
victories.
Racing will continue on Wednesday night at Buffalo Raceway
with a 13-race program scheduled for 6 p.m.
For more information including the latest news, results,
race replays and upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
