by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Upfront Countryboy got 'up front' early in
Buffalo Raceway's $11,500 Class AA Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night
(Feb.16) and never looked back in taking a 1-1/2 length triumph over Dark Horse
in 1:56.0 over the good track.
Title Town (Shawn McDonough) was quickest off the gate in
the main event but didn't have much time to savor the front end as Upfront
Countryboy (Shawn Gray) took over the lead just before the opening panel.
Dark Horse was first over and looked like the main threat to
Upfront Countryboy coming down the stretch but his rally didn't materialize as
hoped and had to settle for second with Title Town holding on for the show
position.
Owned by William Emmons and trained by James Clouser Jr., it
was the first win in two starts for Upfront Countryboy (Dragon Again-Cambloid).
The 10-year-old gelding has earned $6,670 this year and $446,090 in his career.
There were a pair of $9,500 Class A paces on the under card.
Mr Euroman N ($4.80) went gate-to-wire and turned back the
late attempts by R M Hawk (David McNeight III) and Manceiver (Gray) to take the
victory in 1:57.0 in the first sub-featured event.
Leaving from the inside post, Mr Euroman N set the fractions
with a :29.2, :58.3 and 1:28.0. A :29.0 last panel was enough as R M Hawk could
get no closer than a half length.
Driven by Billy Davis Jr. and trained by Maria Rice, Mr
Euroman N (Art Major-Little Big Sister) is a 7-year-old gelding that is
co-owned by the Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Pine Hill Racing
LTD. It was the second victory in five tries this season for Mr. Euroman N, now
a winner of $9,950 in 2019 and $113,329 lifetime.
In the second leg, A F F Bigdaddy (Drew Monti) was able to
grind out a length victory over Im So Handsome in 1:56.3.
Going first over down the backstretch, A F F Bigdaddy slowly
but surely started to cut into the lead of Im So Handsome and took over command
midway down the lane. Im So Handsome had to settle for the place position with
Heaven Rocks finishing in third.
A F F Bigdaddy (Sir Luck-Artacam Hanover) is a 6-year-old
gelding owned by Jennifer and Marcus Rogowski. Conditioned by Steven Kiblin, it
was the first trip to the winner's circle for A F F Bigdaddy, now a earner of
$5,590 this year and $85,115 in his career.
Ray Fisher Jr. topped the drivers with four victories on the
night. Monti, tripled while Davis Jr. and Gray each doubled. Mike Ohol, Maria
Rice and Sabrina Clevenger all scored a pair of training wins.
Racing will continue on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. with a
12-race card scheduled.
For more information including the latest news, race
replays, results, entries, upcoming promotions and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
