by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- A pair of $100,000 earners from 2018
locked horns in Buffalo Raceway's featured $11,500 Open II Pace on Saturday
night (Feb. 9) and the two did not disappoint in the main event tussle.
With both Lucky McTrucky and Shady City hitting six figures
last season, the betting public figured it was going to be a two horse race.
They were right.
It was Lucky McTrucky (Drew Monti) however who proved to be
the best on the frigid night, topping rival Shady City (Larry Stalbaum) by a
half length in a impressive 1:56.0 over the fast track. Dark Horse (Ray Fisher
Jr.) was third.
Scoring from the rail, Shady City registered rather soft
fractions of :29.1 and :58.2 to the half, parking Lucan Hanover (Billy Davis
Jr.) along the way.
With the cover starting to fad heading to the three-quarter
marker, Monti got Lucky McTrucky ($4.80) into gear and stared Shady City into
the eye turning for home.Lucky McTrucky Wins Battle At Buffalo Raceway It seemed like Shady City might hang tough but he
just couldn't keep up as Lucky McTrucky used a :27.1 final panel to secure the
decision.
Lucky McTrucky (McArdle-Truculent Lady) is a 10-year-old
gelding that has won twice this season in six attempts, earning $19,900. Owned
by Tessa Roland and conditioned by JD Perrin, the victory pushed his career
earnings to $519,287.
In the $10,500 co-featured Class A-AA Handicap Pace, Beachy
Dream ($9.20) made it two straight at Buffalo Raceway with a come from behind
3/4-length score over the pace-setting Southwind Torque in 1:56.2.
After sitting in third until the top of the lane, Beachy
Dream went three-wide down the stretch and zoomed past Southwind Torque (Davis
Jr.) who had posted solid splits of :284, :57.4 and 1:27.0.
Owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Gerry Sarama, it was
the second win in three tries in 2019 for 8-year-old gelded Beachy Dream (If I
Can Dream-Beachy Girl). The victory upped his seasonal winnings to $11,500 and
$191,640 lifetime.
Gray finished the evening with four driving victories while
Monti added three and Stalbaum two. James Clouser Jr. had three training wins
with Sarama and Perrin doubling.
Racing will continue on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with a
12-race program scheduled.
