by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Title Town threw a solid but stunning
knockout punch in Buffalo Raceway's $10,500 Class AA Open Pace on Saturday
night (March 9) and that blow delivered a $37.60 victory.
With the heavily favored Upfront Countryboy (Shawn Gray)
scoring from the rail and setting fractions of :29.0, :58.2 and 1:28.3 over the
sloppy track, Title Town (Denny Bucceri) sat back and watched until tipping out
first over down the backstretch.
With momentum on his side, Title Town's jabs began to wear
down Upfront Countryboy in the stretch, eventually sending the pace setter to
the canvas in 1:58.1. Golden Gesture (Kevin Cummings) took the show position.
Title Town (Metropolitan-Pan Of Iniquity), a winner by a
length, is under the training guidance of George Anthrop and is owned by the
Lav Racing Stable, Inc. It was second victory in nine tries this season for the
7-year-old gelding, now a winner of $14,827 on the campaign and $94,250
lifetime.
In the sub-featured $9,500 Class A paces, What's Goin On
(Kevin Cummings) got a dream trip to register a popular $3.90 victory in 1:58.4
while in the other event. Santana Beach (Billy Davis Jr.) kicked up some sand
in scoring a $20.20 surprise in 2:00.0.
What's Goin On drafted perfectly behind China Dream and
rolled to the outside down the stretch which carried him to a solid 2-1/4
length over Heaven Rocks (Drew Monti) and R M Hawk (Bucceri).
After setting the splits of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:29.1, China
Dream (Davis Jr.) didn't have enough stamina in the lane to hold back the late
kick from What's Goin On who was in cruise control at the wire.
Co-owned by Marissa and Joseph Russo and conditioned by
David Russo, What's Goin On (Roll With Joe-Shipps Xclamation) is a 5-year-old
gelding that has earned $12,265 thanks to a pair of victories in six starts in
2019. The win vaulted his lifetime earnings to $305,722.
In the other Class A division, Santana Beach used a
methodical journey for more than a half mile before reaching the lead. He was
able to hold off the challenge by Bugatti (David McNeight III) by a neck while
Harry Hoo N (Shawn McDonough) settled for third place.
Santana Beach (Santanna Blue Chip-Beachs Luck) is a
7-year-old gelding owned by Jason Newell and trained by Richard Roth. He has
now collected $9,890 in earnings this year and $99,294 in his career.
Cummings and Davis Jr. both doubled on the card with Russo
getting a pair of training wins.
The racing will continue on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with
a 13-race program slated.
For more information including the latest news, race
replays, results, upcoming promotions and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
