by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Iluvtomakemoney ($11.20) cashed in on some live cover and took the featured $11,000 Class AA pace in 1:54.0 over the fast track at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (June 6).
Sitting fifth behind the live flow provided by Percy's Z Tam (Kevin Cummings) at the three-quarter pole, Iluvtomakemoney (Ray Fisher Jr.) followed that cover to the lead and posted the 2-1/2 length victory. Percy's Z Tam, who did the dirty work and was in front at the top of the stretch, settled for second while Mr. Euroman N (Billy Davis Jr.) managed third.
Owned by the Tenah Merah Farms and the Swift Racing Stable, it was the second win in seven tries for the 5-year-old Iluvtomakemoney (Well Said-Symphony In Motion). The victory improved his seasonal earnings to $14,340 and $192,971 lifetime.
China Dream ($5.10) led every step of the way and easily turned back the field in the $10,000 Class A pace.
Scoring from the five post, China Dream (Davis Jr.) sprinted smartly to the lead and put up sensible fractions of :29.0, :58.1 and 1:27.3.
In the stretch, eventual runner up Brookdale Fletcher (Drew Monti) was the only one with an opportunity to collar the pace setter but those thoughts were quickly erased as China Dream put up a :27.4 final panel to stroll away to the convincing 2-1/4 length score. Raylan Givens (Jim McNeight Jr.) took the show spot.
Owned by Team Rice Racing and trained by Maria Rice, China Dream (If I Can Dream-China Art) is a 9-year-old gelding that now has won three times in seven attempts in 2020. The victory upped his seasonal earnings to $14,400 and $365,562 lifetime.
Davis Jr. completed the evening with four wins while Jim Morrill Jr., Fisher Jr. and Monti all doubled. Rice, Jim Graham and Riley Asher-Stalbaum each had two training wins.
Racing will resume on Wednesday evening as a 12-race program is set with a 6 p.m post.
For more information including the latest news, race replays, entries and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
