by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- HP Sissy ($4.30) capped a great night for
trainer Mike Ohol and driver Jim Morrill Jr. as she snagged a nose victory over
Protect Blue Chip in Buffalo Raceway's $13,000 Open Pace for the filly and
mares on Wednesday night (March 4).
The narrow win by HP Sissy allowed Ohol and Morrill Jr. to
combine for four victories on the 12-race program.
Going off as the favorite in a wide-open affair, HP Sissy
scooted right to the lead and set the fractions of :28.0, :57.3 and 1:27.4.
Things got interesting in the lane as Protect Blue Chip
(Billy Davis Jr.) and Blue Belle Bonnie (David McNeight III) all took dead aim
at HP Sissy which produced the blanket finish.
The photo revealed that HP Sissy hung on to win by a nostril
in 1:57.3 while Protect Blue Chip and Blue Belle Bonnie had to settle for the
disappointing second and third place finishes respectively.
Owned by the Finocchario's Dream Stable, it was the second
win in three appearances for the 7-year-old mare HP Sissy (Up The Credit-Monica
Blue Chip). The win took her seasonal earnings to $12,500 and $380,129
lifetime.
Julio's Girl (McNeight III) used a slow and steady first
over grind and eventually caught Hey Sweetie in the stretch to collect the
$10.40 win in the $10,000 Class A-B Handicap for the distaff pacers.
With Hey Sweetie (Davis Jr.), putting up splits of :30.1,
1:00.1 and 1:29.4, Julio's Girl started her march to the top before the half
mile station and finally reached the lead at the top of the lane to post the
half length decision. Jag Out (Drew Monti) finished in third.
Owned by William Emmons and conditioned by James Clouser
Jr., it was the third victory in five attempts this year for the 7-year-old
mare Julio's Girl (Art Director-Prayer Answered). The triumph moved her
bankroll to $10.940 this year and $156,958 in her career.
In the $10,000 Class A trot, Bred For Greatness ($11.80)
continued his dominate start to the 2020 campaign by registering his fourth
victory in five tries this season.
Bred For Greatness (Morrill Jr.), with a first over trip,
took command from Noble Legend (Davis Jr.) and coasted to a solid 1-1/4 victory
in 2:00.3 over the fast track. Mighty Nicky (Monti) took the show position.
Co-owned by trainer Ohol and Steven Gross, the 6-year-old
gelded Bred For Greatness (Federal Flex-Wendy Woo) has produced $16,440 in
earnings this year and $110,721 lifetime.
McNeight III had a double in the sulky while Clouser Jr. had
a pair of training wins.
Racing will resume at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening with a
13-race program scheduled.
