by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Ugly Betty turned in another 'beauty' of a
victory and Justgottogethere pulled a shocker to highlight the action at
Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (February 18).
It was an easy gate-to-wire win for Ugly Betty in the $9,500
conditioned pace for fillies and mares while Justgottogethere used a perfect
pocket trip to register a $59.50 surprise in the co-featured $9,500 conditioned
trot.
The program wasn't completed, however, as Buffalo Raceway
was forced to cancel the races after the fifth race due to electrical issues.
Ugly Betty ($6.10) started from the rail and never looked
back in cruising to her second straight win, an impressive 4-1/2 length
decision over Memumsnotnice. Shawn Gray set sail from the rail with Ugly Betty
and posted splits of 29.0, 58.0, 1:27.3 in posting a seasonal best time of
1:57.0. Memumsnotnice hung on for place (Frank Milby) while Sadies Place (Draw
Monti) finished in third.
Owned by Margaret Payne and Jennifer Falcone, Ugly Betty
(Camluck-Red Road Rage) is a 7-year-old mare who is trained by Dennis Dylo.
With the win, Ugly Betty has now earned $13,425 this season and $186,798
lifetime.
It was a perfect game plan used by driver Jim McNeight and
Justgottogetthere to get the victory in the featured trot.
Dropping into the garden spot at the start behind the
pace-setting Lutetium, Justgottogetthere and McNeight waited patiently until
the top of the stretch. They then roared by the leg weary Lutetium to pull away
for the stunning 2-1/2 length win in 2:02.1. Fiorentina (Milby) showed late
kick for second while Northern Spark (John Cummings Jr.) placed third.
The $59.50 win price by Justgottogetthere (Valley
Victor-Mara's Theme) spurred a $480.50 exacta and $4,390.50 trifecta.
Justgottogetthere is a 6-year-old gelding owned by
Antonietta Landi and the North Creek Racing Stable LLC. Jerry Nugent Jr.
trained the the winner, now 2-for-3 on the season. It pushed the trotter's
earnings to $10,000 in 2015 and $148,482 in his career.
Racing continues on Friday night at Buffalo Raceway with a
13-race card scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
For more information including race replays, results,
upcoming promotions and the latest news, go to
www.buffaloraceway.com
