by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- The old gal just keeps on chugging along. Quicksilvercandy A, a spry 13-year-old mare, won her 13th race of the season and easily took the $16,500 finale for the filly and mare pacers ($8,000-$12,500 category) in the Championship Claiming Series at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (July 19).
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| Photo by Steve Roth | |
| Quicksilvercandy A wins 13th race of the season. |
Amazingly, Quicksilvercandy A (Bad Bert-Forzett) has been in the money 23 of 26 starts in 2017. With the victory, her Buffalo Raceway earnings for the year are now at $66,629, the most since Golden Terror produced $63,084 in 2011. It also the most wins at the Hamburg half-mile oval since Ophiuchus N and That Horse JD each registered 12 in 2012 and 2016 respectively.
The triumph also sent driver Larry Stalbaum over the $1 million mark in purse earnings at Buffalo Raceway this year.
It was another gate-to-wire performance that got the job done for Quicksilvercandy A. Leaving from the six post, she posted fractions of 28.4, 58.4 and 1:28.1 en route to a 1:57.1 victory. Quicksilvercandy A ($5.20) beat Letsgosomewhere (Ron Beback Jr.) by 2-3/4 lengths with Springhouse Star (John Cummings Jr.) taking third.
Owned by Stalbaum and trained by Kimberly Asher, Quicksilvercandy A has earned $635,363 in her stellar career.
In the other division of the Championship Claiming Series, Heavenly Place ($19.00) won the $11,500 title for the filly and mare pacers ($4,000-$6,000) as driver David McNeight III guided her to a nose decision over Wacky Rei in a seasonal best 1:56.3.
Heavenly Place (Riverboat King-Angel Place), a 9-year-old mare, is owned by Courtney McNeight and trained by David McNeight Jr. The win was her sixth of the season and moved her earnings to $18,724 and $232,914 lifetime.
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| Photo by Steve Roth | |
| Ray Fisher Jr. steers Sportsmuffler to F&M Open win. |
It was a slow and steady but effective journey for Sportsmuffler as she took the scenic overland route to capture the $10,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace. Sportsmuffler ($6.70) beat Classy Lane Rose by two lengths in tying her seasonal mark of 1:54.4.
Sitting fourth at the half mile marker, Sportsmuffler started her first over trip and methodically cut into the lead of the pace-setting Voltina who posted splits of 28.2, 57.1 and 1:25.4.
Turning for home, Ray Fisher Jr. shifted Sportsmuffler into a another gear and she responded perfectly by pacing away from the field. Classy Lane Rose (Drew Monti) rallied for second and Voltina (John Cummings Jr.) held on for third.
Owned by the Lav Racing Stable and trained by Steven Kiblin, Sportsmuffler (Sportsmaster-Whatifthere'smores) is a 5-year-old mare who has five wins in 26 tries this year. The victory bumped her seasonal winnings to $25,734 and $179,178 lifetime.
Fisher Jr. and Monti finished the night with a driving triples with Stalbaum getting a pair. Asher and Angelo Nappo finished with a training doubles.
Racing will continue on Friday night at 5 p.m. with a 9-race program scheduled. It will kickoff the final weekend of racing on the 2017 season at Buffalo Raceway.