by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Upfront Countryboy ($5.60) made it look
easy once again at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (April 21) by thumping the
field in the featured $9,600 pace in a seasonal best 1:54.0 over the fast
track.
After blowing out his foes last week by 5-1/2 lengths in an
$8,100 optional claimer, Upfront Countryboy stepped up in class to face better.
The stiffer competition didn't matter as he paced away to a comfortable 7-1/4
length win over Im So Handsome.
Taking command through a half-mile of 56.4, Upfront
Countryboy (Shawn Gray) never looked back from there. A blazing :27.4 final
split eliminated the slight hopes of the remaining six pacers had in the
stretch. Im So Handsome (James McNeight Jr) held on for second place while
Barrys Shelby (Ray Fisher Jr.) took the show position.
Owned by William Emmons and trained by James Clouser Jr., it
was the fifth win in eight attempts this season for Upfront Countryboy (Dragon
Again-Cambloid). The 9-year-old gelding has now put $14,957 in the bank in 2018
and $376,957 lifetime.
Gray completed the evening with five wins in the sulky, Drew
Monti tripled and Fisher Jr. had a double. Clouser Jr. finished with four
training victories and JD Perrin added three.
It was a memorable night for Riley Asher-Stalbaum as she registered her first career training victory as
Empire Earl N (Fisher Jr.) won the $8,100 trot in 1:58.1.
Racing will continue on Wednesday night with a 10-race card
scheduled for 5 p.m.
For more information including the latest news, simulcast
schedule, race replays, results, entries and upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
