HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Taylor Rei absolutely enjoyed watching a pair of mares battle in a speed duel on the front and then reaped the benefits of their hard work to win the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (June 8) in a seasonal best time of 1:54.3 over the fast track.
Real Joy (Shawn McDonough) and the parked Ugly Betty (Jack Flanigen) tussled to the opening half mile, posting fractions of 28.0 and 56.2. Taylor Rei (Ray Fisher Jr.), who went three-wide down the backstretch, zoomed past the tiring pace-setters, hitting the three-quarter pole in 1:25.3.
In the stretch, Taylor Rei ($15.40) and Ray Fisher Jr. enjoyed the beautiful spring air in Western New York and never had to deal with any challengers, scoring a four length victory. V'La Faire (Drew Monti) finished in second while CS Kentucky (Kevin Cummings) took third place.
Taylor Rei (Cheyenne Rei-Lady Raider), owned by Jonathan Klee Racing and trained by Ryan Swift, has now registered five victories in 15 starts, producing $27,663 in earnings in 2014 and $106,065 lifetime.
The racing action resumes on Friday evening at Buffalo Raceway with a 12-race program scheduled at 6:40 p.m.
by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway