by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- The rainy weather couldn't cool off the
red hot Daylight Rush ($5.40) at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (July 11) as
he notched a 3-/4 length victory over Percy's Z Tam in the $11,500 Class
AA-Open Handicapped Pace.
In his last six starts since June 6, Daylight Rush has three
wins and three second place finishes. The win on Saturday gave him two straight
and three out of his last four.
Class Six stomped out the early fractions on the sloppy
track with splits of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:25.4 but they eventually took its toll
on the pace setter.
Percy's Z Team made the first over move and powered to the
top while Daylight Rush came along for the ride as Pick Six retreated.
In the drive to the finish line, Daylight Rush had
too much punch for Percy's Z Tam and moved away to the triumph.
Iluvtomakemoney (Ray Fisher Jr.) closed late for the show position.
Owned by Cassandra Johnson and trained by McNeight III, it
was the third score in eight outings for the 7-year-old gelded Daylight Rush
(Art Colony-Pass With Caution). The victory has pushed his 2020 winnings to
$22,850 and $244,334 in his career.
Thor De Vie (McNeight III) has climbed up the ladder
with perfection after rolling to an easy 1-1/2 length victory over Utah Beach
in the sub-featured $10,000 Class A pace in 1:57.2.
With wins in the Class B and C in his last two appearances,
Thor De Vie made the natural progression to the A bracket and found little
trouble in finding the winner's circle once again.
After relinquishing the lead briefly to Sizzling Summer,
Thor De Vie roared back to the top and posted splits of :28.4, :59.0 and
1:28.1. In the stretch, Utah Beach (Cummings) made a belated bid but came up
well short. In Runaway Bay N (Dan Yetman) finished in third.
Co-owned by trainer Jim Graham, Lee Winters, Giuseppe Micchia
and Paul Trandlmayer, it was the third win in five attempts this season for the
5-year-old gelded Thor De Vie (So Surreal-Pebblebeach De Vie). The victory
upped his seasonal bankroll to $13,168 and $249,130 lifetime.
The final week of the 2020 season kicks off on Wednesday
night with a 13-race program slated for 6 p.m.
For more information including the latest news, race
replays, entries and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
