by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Knocking Around has been camera shy
recently but that doesn't mean the 7-year-old gelding hasn't been trying.
With three runner up finishes and two shows in his last five
appearances in Open competition, it was just a matter of time before Knocking
Around got back into the win column.
That time came on Saturday night (Feb. 11).
Knocking Around ($6.10) got a perfect first over trip and
held on at the wire to take Buffalo Raceway's $10,000 Open Pace in 1:59.3 over
a sloppy track. After 10 victories and $86,370 in earnings in 2016, it was the
first win in four starts this year.
With Littlebitaclass setting the splits of 29.2, 1:00.0 and
1:30.2, the closers were ready to pounce in the final panel on the pace-setter
in the stretch.
Pounce they did.
Knocking Around (David McNeight III) led the charge down the
stretch and was able to hold back the valiant attempts by China Dream (Shawn
Gray) and Itsonlyrocknroll A (Larry Stalbaum) who finished in second and third
respectively. It was a blanket finish with just three-quarter lengths
separating the top three finishers.
Owned by Courtney McNeight and trained by David McNeight
Jr., Knocking Around (Western Terror-So Completely) has now won $11.200 this
season and $262,603 lifetime.
Stalbaum, Kevin Cummings, Ray Fisher Jr., Shawn Gray and
McNeight III all doubled on the program while McNeight Jr. and Kimberly Asher
each had two training victories.
Racing will resume on Wednesday night at Buffalo Raceway
with a 12-race program scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. There's a $1,291 carryover
in the Pick-5 on Wednesday which starts in the second race. It's the first
Pick-5 carryover of the season.
For more information including results, race replays,
upcoming promotions and the latest news, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
