by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Black Is Back ($3.90) has now posted 'back
to back' victories at Buffalo Raceway with a neck win over China Dream in the
$11,000 Class AA Pace on a steamy Saturday evening (July 4).
After scoring the decision in the Class A bracket last week, Black Is Back (David McNeight III) was nudged up another level and was able to just get past the tough luck loser China Dream (Billy Davis Jr.) in the shadow of the wire. Cultural Paradise (Kyle Cummings) took the show spot.
As expected, China Dream set up shop on the front end and posted fractions of :28.0, :58.0 and 1:27.0 over the fast track. Black Is Back in the meantime sat in the pocket and was able to sneak on by in deep stretch.
Co-owned by Curtis Edholm and Mihajlo Zdjelar Sr., and trained by Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr., Black Is Back (Western Terror-Magic Moments) has now won twice in four attempts this season. The triumph moved his 2020 earnings to $11,460 and $254,310 lifetime.
McNeight III swept the features as he guided the heavily favored Daylight Rush ($2.40) to a 3/4-length nod over Stratosphere in 1:55.0 in the $10,000 Class A pacing event.
Stratosphere (Drew Monti) zoomed off the starting gate to grab the early lead but Daylight Rush wanted no part of a pocket journey and retook the advantage before reaching the quarter marker in :28.3.
Sizzling Summer (Davis Jr.) made a first over trip down the backstretch the final time and was on even terms with Daylight Rush at the three-quarter pole. But his rally fizzled out as Daylight Rush was easily able to fend off a mild threat from Stratosphere in the lane while Rock The Dream (Ray Fisher Jr.) grabbed the show spot.
Owned by Cassandra Johnson and conditioned by McNeight III, it was the second victory of the year for the 7-year-old gelded Daylight Rush (Art Colony-Pass With Caution). The win pushed his seasonal bankroll to $17,100 and $238,584 in his career.
Racing will continue on Wednesday evening with a 13-race program slated for 6 p.m.
