HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Little Santamonica arrived
for Buffalo Raceway's season opener on Wednesday night with some impressive
credentials from Yonkers, Saratoga and
Vernon Downs in 2013. The 6-year-old mare started out 2014 great as well.
Despite being assigned the far outside post, the eight spot,
it didn't make a difference as Little Santamonica ($3.60)
easily disposed of the field in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace in
1:57.2.
Sitting third behind the pacing-setting High Speed Life (Ray
Fisher Jr.), and Red Star Fiona (Ron Beback Jr.),
Little Santamonica and driver
Billy Dobson went first over
down the backstretch the final time and used a 29.34 final panel to win by
2-3/4 lengths. High Speed Life held on for third and Red Star Fiona was third
and never threatened in the lane.
Little Santamonica (Little
Steven-Torianne N), trained by
Jordan Hope and owned Kelly Hope, had bankrolled $106,221 in 2013 and raced in
the $37,000 Fillies and Mares Open at Yonkers on December 13th in her last
start, finishing a game third. The nearly month rest and outside post didn't
bother her one bit on the cold and flurry-filled evening in winning in her
first appearance of the season.
Racing resumes on Friday night at Buffalo Raceway when a
12-race card starts at 6:40 p.m. The $10,500 Open Trot will be the feature,
scheduled for the seventh race.
For more information including race replays, news and
promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
by Brian J. Mazurek,
for Buffalo Raceway
