HAMBURG, N.Y.--- Fireyourguns made his seasonal debut in the $10,500 Open Pace at Buffalo Raceway Saturday night (April 12) and he looked in mid-season form as he scored an impressive neck victory over a late-closing Salazar in a sparkling time of 1:54.1 over the fast track.
The last time Fireyourguns was seen was back on October 19 when he registered a length victory in the Batavia Downs Open Pace. The 2013 'Pacer of the Year' at Batavia Downs didn't look like he was resting and relaxing for nearly six months in posting the surprising $21.40 victory.
The heavily-favored Running Book (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was the commander of fractions with times of 27.3, 56.0 and 1:25.0 but like last week drifted out badly in the lane. Fireyourguns took advantage and needed very little encouragement from driver Mike Caprio who kept the winner going in a straight line to the score the win. Salazar (Ron Beback Jr.) was hard-charging late and just missed by a neck while Running Book took the show position.
Fireyourguns (American Ideal-Villa Hanover) is a 5-year-old gelding owned by Terence McClory along with Jennifer and Robert Lowe. It was the 18th lifetime win in 50 appearances and moved Fireyourguns' lifetime earnings to $129,811.
Racing will return on Wednesday night at Buffalo Raceway with a 13-race card scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway