HAMBURG, N.Y. --- St Lads Zena ($5.00) was assigned the inside post in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Buffalo Raceway Wednesday evening (April 2) and used that advantage to edge out Delightful Syd by a nose in 1:57.2 over the fast track.
Scoring from the one hole, the favored St Lads Zena (Ron Beback Jr.) played give-and-go with Taylor Rei to the opening quarter marker. It was then a matter if the front-running St Lads Zena had any takers from the six remaining mares in the stretch run. She had plenty but gamely held them off thanks to a 28.3 last panel.
Delightful Syd (John Cummings Jr.) scooted down the 'lightning lane' but lost by a heart-breaking nose in the photo while third place finisher Taylor Rei (Ray Fisher Jr.) finished just 3/4 lengths behind.
It was first victory of the season at Buffalo Raceway and second of the year for St Lads Zena who had been racing at London and Woodbine earlier in 2014. The 5-year-old mare (Apaches Fame-Natural Ingredient) is owned by Keith Pinkowski and trained by Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. She now has bankrolled $17,190 this year and $86,950 lifetime.
Harness racing continues on Friday night at Buffalo Raceway with a 12-race card scheduled at 6:40 p.m.
by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway