HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Gallant Seelster ($5.30) is finding the rail at Buffalo Raceway to be in his comfort zone. For the second time in three weeks, Gallant Seelster went gate-to-wire from the pylons and won the $10,000 Open Pace with a seasonal best 1:53.2 on Saturday night (April 28).

Photo by Steve Roth
Gallant Seelster wires field in 1:53.2

 

Drawing the rail in the field of six, Gallant Seelster (David McNeight III) took off from the start and posted splits of 28.1, 56.1 and 1:25.0.

 

Shady City (Larry Stalbaum), who got parked for most of the race, battled Gallant Seelster down the stretch but ended up a neck short while China Dream (Jack Rice) finished in third.

 

Co-owned by Peter Kibler, James Costa and Courtney McNeight and trained by David McNeight Jr., Gallant Seelster (Stonebridge Regal-Gold Not Silver) is a 7-year-old gelding that now has won seven times in 17 races in 2017. The win pushed his seasonal earnings to $43,978 and $432,907 lifetime.

 

Kevin Cummings finished the evening with four victories in the sulky while Ray Fisher Jr. and Stalbaum doubled. Kim Asher and Sabrina Clevenger each had two training wins.

 

Racing will continue on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. with an 11-race program scheduled. There will be two finals in the Championship Claiming Series with the filly and mare pacers taking center stage.