HAMBURG, N.Y. --- It's been a frustrating past two weeks for Justgottogetthere at Buffalo Raceway with a pair of solid but disappointing second place finishes. But that annoyance was erased on Friday night (March 4) as Justgottogetthere posted a convincing 2-3/4 length victory over Winkys Pride in the featured $8,200 trot.

 

Leave Your Mark (Jim Morrill Jr.) set the fractions through the opening three stations with times of 29.4, 1:00.0 and 1:29.0. Justgottogetthere, in the meantime, began his first over journey just before the half mile and eventually got on even terms with the pace-setter with a quarter mile to race. 

 

In the drive to the wire, driver Jim McNeight gave Justgottogetthere some minor encouragement and he responded to draw away for the popular $4.10 win in 1:59.3. Winkys Pride (Denny Bucceri) came on late for second place with Kahoku (Truman Gale) taking third.

 

Co-owned by Antonietta Landi and North Creek Racing, the 7-year-gelded Justgottogetthere (Valley Victory-Mara's Theme) scored his initial win of 2016 after four previous appearances. Trained by Jerry Nugent Jr., Justgottogetthere has won $8,660 this year and $211,534 lifetime.

 

Morrill Jr. registered five victories in the bike while Gale doubled. Trainer JD Perrin remained red hot as he conditioned three winners.

 

Racing will continue on Saturday night with an 11-race program set to go to the post at 6 p.m.