HAMBURG, N.Y. --- The beat goes on for Itsonlyrocknroll A at Buffalo Raceway as the 6-year-old gelding took the featured $10,000 Open Pace on Saturday night (Feb. 4) in a seasonal best time of 1:55.0 over the good track.

Photo by Steve Roth
Itsonlyrocknroll A (#4) holds on for Open Pace victory.

 

It was the third straight victory for Itsonlyrocknroll A ($4.60) and the second consecutive night the combination of owner/driver Larry Stalbaum and trainer Kim Asher have captured the featured event. Friday night in the $10,000 Open Trot, Perfect Rendition found the winner's circle for the Stalbaum/Asher connection.

 

At the start, Moonwards Hanover took the early lead but Itsonlyrocknroll A was able to grab the top before the quarter pole and went into cruise mode.

 

After putting up fractions of 28.2, 57.2 and 1:26.2, Itsonlyrocknroll A appeared home free at the top of the stretch with a seemingly comfortable two length advantage.

 

Things got a little scary, however, near the wire as a fast closing Knocking Around (David McNeight III) made a valiant attempt to collar Itsonlyrocknroll A but came up just a neck short. Major Trick (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) finished in third.

 

Itsonlyrocknroll A (Million Dollar Cam-Boldandbeautiful) has now earned $14,500 in 2017, thanks to a perfect 3-for-3 record, and upped his lifetime earnings to $184.720.

 

Ray Fisher Jr. led the way in the sulky with five victories while Stalbaum, Shawn Gray and Bruce Aldrich Jr. each doubled. 

 

David Russo and Sabrina Clevenger had training doubles.

 

Racing will continue on Wednesday evening with a 12-race card scheduled for 5 p.m.