HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Fiorentina played 'catch me if you can' with the field in the featured $8,400 Fillies and Mares Trot at Buffalo Raceway on Thursday evening (Jan. 23). She proved to be unstoppable and trotted off like a 3-to-5 favorite should.
Leaving from the outside post in the field of six, Fiorentina (Aaron Byron) got to the front and never looked back in posting a convincing 2-1/4 length victory over Stormont O My (Drew Monti) in 2:00.1 over the good track. Zorgwijk Heavenly (Ray Fisher Jr.) rallied for the show spot on the cold evening.
Fiorentina set the fractions of 30.1, 1:00.4 and 1:31 and then ripped off a 29.1 final quarter mile to put the remainder of the field in surrender mode.
It was the second straight victory for Fiorentina ($3.40) in 2014. She had won the $10,500 Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway on January 17 so the six-day layoff made little difference.
Owned by Frank Lamacchia and Guy Polillo, Fiorentina (Angus Hall-Red Hot And Blue) is a 5-year-old mare trained by John Mungillo. It was her 16th career victory and sent her career earnings to $138,275.
Ron Beback Jr. had a four-bagger on the card and also conditioned two winners. Alex Giuliani and JD Perrin also trained two winners.
The action resumes Friday night at Buffalo Raceway with 11 races scheduled to get underway at 6:40 p.m.
by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway