by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Rebel Voyager ($7.90) toured the Buffalo
Raceway half-mile oval in a seasonal best 1:54.0 to take a 1-1/4 length
decision over Upfront Countryboy in the co-featured $12,000 Class AA pace on
Saturday evening (April 13).
The victory was the third straight win for Rebel Voyager and
his fifth in eight appearances.
In the other co-main event, Golden Gesture (Ray Fisher Jr.)
zoomed straight to the top and never was threatened the rest of the way to post
a stunning $38.20 win over Beachy Dream in 1:55.4.
Starting from the five post, Rebel Voyager and driver Billy
Davis Jr. had little resistance in stepping to the lead and put up blazing
fractions of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:25.1 which took the starch out of the field. No
one came close to Rebel Voyager in the lane as Upfront Countryboy (Shawn
McDonough) took the place position while Manceiver (Kevin Cummings) was third.
Co-owned by the Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and
the Pine Hill Stable LTD, Rebel Voyager (Shanghai Phil-Pan Voyage) is a
5-year-old gelding that is trained by Maria Rice. The win upped his seasonal
bankroll to $26,146 and $132,331 lifetime.
In the other featured division, Golden Gesture used :28.2,
:57.3 and 1:27.0 splits off the rail and was looking for any challengers in the
lane but found no takers in producing the solid length triumph.
Beachy Dream (Cummings) took the second place check with
Andy's Ideal (Mike Caprio) cruising into third.
Golden Gesture (Shark Gesture-Black Gold Mindale) is trained
by Mike Ohol and owned by Finocchario's Dream Stable. The 6-year-old gelding,
now a winner twice in 12 starts, has produced a bankroll of $18,158 this year
and $168,734 in his career.
In the two $10,000 Class A paces, Down On My Luck ($3.70)
made his debut at Buffalo Raceway an impressive one by blitzing the field by
eight lengths in a snappy 1:54.2. In the other leg, driver Shawn McDonough and
Harry Hoo N ($6.40) wore down Im So Handsome (Cummings) late to take a nose
victory in 1:55.4.
Monti finished the evening with four victories in the bike
while Cummings had three and Billy Davis Jr. two. Gerry Sarama and Angelo Nappo
each conditioned a pair of winners.
Racing will continue on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with a
9-race card scheduled.
For more information including the latest news, race
replays, results, entries, upcoming promotions and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
