HAMBURG, N.Y. --- After a couple of narrow defeats the past two weeks from the five post, Voltina drew the rail and took full advantage of it to capture the featured $7,700 pace for the distaff pacers at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (Feb. 7).

Photo by Steve Roth
Voltina (#1) hangs on for neck victory on Wednesday.

 

Voltina set sail from the rail with John Cummings Jr. in the bike and posted splits of 30.2, 1:00.3 and 1:29.3 over the good track. With a quarter mile to pace, the heavily favored Forbettor Or Worse (Shawn Gray) was getting a perfect pocket trip with Cut And Paste (Mike Micallef) poised to strike on the outside. But Voltina wasn't going to be denied.

 

Cut And Paste called it a night in mid stretch while Forbettor Or Worse tried in vain to get past the stubborn Voltina ($7,50) in the lightning lane but came up a neck short. Escada De Vie (Larry Stalbaum) rallied for the show position.

 

Owned by Chs Racing LLC and trained by Anthony Cummings, it was the first win in four attempts for Voltina (Allamerican Native-Best Not Tell). The 8-year-old mare has now earned $8,150 this season and $218,147 lifetime.

 

It was a good night for Billy Davis Jr. and John Cummings Jr. as both had driving triples with Gray getting two. Trainers Maria Rice and JD Perrin each picked up three victories with Anthony Cummings registering a pair.

 

Action will resume at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night will an 11-race program set for 6 p.m.