HAMBURG, N.Y. --- It may be the dead of winter in Western New York but Validus Deo was in mid-summer form by wiring the field in a snappy 1:53.4 over the fast track in Buffalo Raceway's featured $8,800 pace on Saturday night (Feb. 3).

Photo by Steve Roth
Validus Deo scorches the field with 1:53.4 mark.

 

Starting from the one hole, driver John Cummings Jr. made sure he protected pylon position with Validus Deo ($6.90) by stepping out to a scorching 27.4 opening panel. With middle splits of 56.3 and 1:25.4, the closers were hoping that Validus Deo was going to call it quits down the lane but that didn't happen.

 

Final charges from eventual runner up Heaven Rocks (Drew Monti) and third place finisher Montezuma Bluechip (Billy Davis Jr.) weren't nearly enough as Validus Deo had plenty left to score the length victory.

 

Co-owned by trainer Kevin Cummings, Matthew Rosiek and Robert Johnson, it was the second straight victory for Validus Deo (Lis Mara-Madam Countess). The 8-year-old gelding has now earned $8,100 in 2018 and $513,527 lifetime.

 

Shawn Gray continued his torrid driving streak as he put another four-bagger in the win column while Cummings Jr. and Ray Fisher Jr. each doubled. James Clouser Jr. also remained hot with a training triple with David Russo adding two victories.

 

Action will continue at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday with a 13-race card scheduled with a 5 p.m. post.