by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Now they are even. After Classic American
N ($3.90) suffered a heart breaking nose setback last week to Western Conquest
in Buffalo Raceway's $11,500 Open Pace, he returned the favor on Saturday night
(July 14) by pinning a demoralizing head loss on the hard charging Western
Conquest in 1:56.0.
For the second consecutive week, the Open Pace was reduced
to four entrants with Best Ears and Sir Ziggy's Z Tam both scratched due to
illness. So that left a quartet to battle it out over the good track.
This time around, Classic American N got the upper hand
early and set the tempo as Western Conquest had to give chase. With fractions
of :28.4, :58.0 and 1:27.2, it ended up being a repeat of last Saturday's race
between the two.
In the lane, Classic American N (Billy Davis Jr.) managed to
stay in front as Western Conquest made a late surge but ran out of real estate.
Focus Power (Drew Monti) took the show position.
Co-owned by the Nick Surick Stable LLC and the J L Benson
Stables, Inc. and trained by Sabrina Clevenger, it was the fourth win in 21
starts for Classic American N (American Ideal-Classic Vicolo). The victory
increased his seasonal bankroll to $32,270 and $271,455 in his career.
Ray Fisher Jr. had four trips to the winner's circle with
Davis Jr. getting three and Monti a pair. Trainer Russell Bratt had three
victories.
Buffalo Raceway will start its final week of racing this
year on Wednesday at 5 p.m. with a 10-race program slated. It will be the last
appearance in 2018 for the New York Sire Stakes at the Hamburg half-mile oval
with the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers in action.
For more information including the latest news, upcoming
promotions, simulcast schedule, race replays, results and entries, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
