HAMBURG, N.Y. --- With the temperature reaching over 80 degrees at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (April 10), it was perfect 'beach' weather, Santana Beach ($15.40) weather that is.

Photo by Bill Burke
Santana Beach continues to roll at Buffalo Raceway.

 

Rising up through the ranks the past few weeks, Santana Beach (Kevin Cummings) found his new level, the $10,000 Class AA-Open Handicapped classification, just fine by rolling to a two length victory over Southwind Onyx in 1:54.3, the fastest time of the 2021 meet.

 

Back on March 6, Santana Beach paced to a four length score in the Class C division in 1:56.4. From there, it's been a steady climb onward and upwards with success found at each tougher division. After a victory last week in the Class A bracket, it was time for another jump for Santana Beach and it turned out to be another win.

 

Sitting third past the half, Santana Beach started his first over journey and eventually went by the pace-setting Mr Ham Sandwich approaching the final panel.

 

In the lane, a 28.3 final split was more than enough for Santana Beach to collect his third straight victory and fourth in his last five appearances. Southwind Onyx (Kyle Cummings) made a mild bid late to finish second while Stratosphere (Drew Monti) finished in third.

 

Owned by Jason Newell and trained by Richard Roth, it was the fourth win in seven tries for the 6-year-old gelded Santana Beach (Santanna Blue Chip-Beachs Luck). The victory jumped his seasonal earnings to $16,614 and $192,585 in his career.

 

Thor De Vie romped by 4-3/4 lengths in the $8,800 Class A pace by wiring the field for driver Kevin Cummings in a seasonal best of 1:54.4.

 

There was little drama in the event as Thor De Vie went the middle splits in :56.3 which proved to be too much for the rest of the field. Loaded Deck (Shawn McDonough) took the runner up position with Beachy Dream (Jim Morrill Jr.) placing third.

 

Co-owned by trainer Jim Graham, Lee Winters, Giuseppe Micchia and Paul Tandlmeyer, it was the second win in seven starts this season for Thor De Vie (So Surreal-Pebblebeach De Vie). The victory took his 2021 bankroll to $14,408 and $275,058 lifetime.

 

Kevin Cummings led the way for the drivers with four wins with Ray Fisher Jr. adding a pair. Lee Dahn and Ryan Swift had training doubles.

 

Racing will resume on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with a 10-race card set. There will be a guaranteed pool of $3,000 in the Pick 5 which begins in the second race.

 

For more information including the latest news, race replays, entries and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com