by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Title Town threw a solid but stunning knockout punch in Buffalo Raceway's $10,500 Class AA Open Pace on Saturday night (March 9) and that blow delivered a $37.60 victory.
 |
||
| Photo by Steve Roth | ||
| Title Town delivers knockout in Class AA Open pace. |
With the heavily favored Upfront Countryboy (Shawn Gray) scoring from the rail and setting fractions of :29.0, :58.2 and 1:28.3 over the sloppy track, Title Town (Denny Bucceri) sat back and watched until tipping out first over down the backstretch.
With momentum on his side, Title Town's jabs began to wear down Upfront Countryboy in the stretch, eventually sending the pace setter to the canvas in 1:58.1. Golden Gesture (Kevin Cummings) took the show position.
Title Town (Metropolitan-Pan Of Iniquity), a winner by a length, is under the training guidance of George Anthrop and is owned by the Lav Racing Stable, Inc. It was second victory in nine tries this season for the 7-year-old gelding, now a winner of $14,827 on the campaign and $94,250 lifetime.
In the sub-featured $9,500 Class A paces, What's Goin On (Kevin Cummings) got a dream trip to register a popular $3.90 victory in 1:58.4 while in the other event. Santana Beach (Billy Davis Jr.) kicked up some sand in scoring a $20.20 surprise in 2:00.0.
What's Goin On drafted perfectly behind China Dream and rolled to the outside down the stretch which carried him to a solid 2-1/4 length over Heaven Rocks (Drew Monti) and R M Hawk (Bucceri).
After setting the splits of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:29.1, China Dream (Davis Jr.) didn't have enough stamina in the lane to hold back the late kick from What's Goin On who was in cruise control at the wire.
Co-owned by Marissa and Joseph Russo and conditioned by David Russo, What's Goin On (Roll With Joe-Shipps Xclamation) is a 5-year-old gelding that has earned $12,265 thanks to a pair of victories in six starts in 2019. The win vaulted his lifetime earnings to $305,722.
In the other Class A division, Santana Beach used a methodical journey for more than a half mile before reaching the lead. He was able to hold off the challenge by Bugatti (David McNeight III) by a neck while Harry Hoo N (Shawn McDonough) settled for third place.
Santana Beach (Santanna Blue Chip-Beachs Luck) is a 7-year-old gelding owned by Jason Newell and trained by Richard Roth. He has now collected $9,890 in earnings this year and $99,294 in his career.
Cummings and Davis Jr. both doubled on the card with Russo getting a pair of training wins.
The racing will continue on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with a 13-race program slated.
For more information including the latest news, race replays, results, upcoming promotions and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com