HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Upfront Countryboy was just off the mark in his last two starts with a pair of narrow second place finishes but he was right on target in the $10,500 Class AA Open Handicap Pace at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (March 23) with a strong two length victory over Beachy Dream in 1:55.1.

Photo by Steve Roth
Upfront Countryboy on target for driver Shawn McDonough.

 

It was a tough stretch for Upfront Countryboy as he had deal with a neck and a length setback in his past two tries. But he washed away the heart break this time around.

 

After watching Beachy Dream take the lead briefly, Upfront Countryboy regained the top before stopping the timer at the quarter pole in :28.2.

 

From there, driver Shawn McDonough kept Upfront Countryboy on task and used a :57.2 back half mile to keep the remaining five combatants at bay. Beachy Dream (Kevin Cummings) finished in second while Heaven Rocks (Drew Monti) picked up the third place check.

 

Owned by William Emmons and trained by James Clouser Jr., it was the second victory in seven tries for the 10-year-old gelded Upfront Countryboy (Dragon Again-Cambloid). The win increased his seasonal earnings to $17,295 and a stellar $456,715 lifetime.

 

In the sub-featured $9,500 Class A Handicapped paces, there were no surprises as A F F Bigdaddy ($3.60) blasted the field in 1:54.2 while Bugatti ($4.70) had to hang on late to post the victory over Harry Hoo N in 1:56.2.

 

A F F Bigdaddy (Monti) had no issues in bottoming out the field as he set fractions of :28.3, :57.0 and 1:26.1 which overpowered the other seven competitors. Rebel Voyager (Billy Davis Jr.) was 4-3/4 lengths back in second while Rose Run Voyager (Ray Fisher Jr.) took third.

 

A F F Bigdaddy (Sir Luck-Artacam) was owned by Jennifer and Marcus Rogowski and trained by Steve Kiblin but was claimed out of the race for $15,000 by Steve Andzel III. The 6-year-old gelding has earned $16,090 and $95,615 lifetime.