by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Osprey Vision was in focus during Buffalo
Raceway's $8,200 co-featured trot on Friday night (July 14) as he went a
lifetime best 1:57.1 over the fast track to produce a surprising $23.60 victory
over Serious George.
Lucky Pablo ($18.00) kept the upsets going in the co-main
event by breaking an 0-for-20 streak in 2017 with a head victory over Shawnee
Magic in 1:59.3.
It was all Osprey Vision in the opener as David McNeight III
sent him right to the top. Establishing fractions of 28.3, 58.3 and 1:28.0, it
appeared the only trotter to have a chance to catch Osprey Vision was Before I
Die. But his hopes were quickly dashed as he broke stride allowing Osprey
Vision to hit the wire uncontested. Serious George (John Cummings Jr.) was
3-1/4 lengths back and picked up the second place check with Winkys Pride (Drew
Monti) rolling into third.
Owned by Marissa Russo and trained by David Russo, the
8-year-old gelded Osprey Vision (Ken Warkentin-Summerhill Hallie) now has six
wins in 24 starts, pushing his seasonal earnings to $43,214 and $142,947
lifetime.
It was a real tussle in the second $8,200 trotting race with
Shawnee Magic, Trotting R T, and City Kid all enjoying the front end before
hitting the opening panel in 29.1. With Shawnee Magic (Kevin Cummings) hitting
the half in 58.2, Lucky Pablo was sixth but first over and on the move.
Grinding it out to the top in the stretch, Lucky Pablo
(Monti) got up in the shadow of the wire to nip the favored Shawn Magic by a
head while a game City Kid (Larry Stalbaum) finished in third.
Lucky Pablo (Lucky Chucky-Classical Princess) is owned by
Crawford Farms Racing and is trained by Maria Rice. The win moved the
5-year-old gelding's winnings to $20,980 this year and to $97,317 in his
career.
McNeight III, Cummings Jr., Stalbaum and Monti all produced
doubles on the evening.
Racing will continue on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. with an
11-race program set.
For more information including the latest news, race
replays, results and upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
