Faithful Desire sweeps to four-length romp

HAMBURG, N.Y. — Faithful Desire (Real Desire-Faith Ann) used a rocket-like move down the backstretch the final time and that maneuver launched her to a solid four length harness racing victory Wednesday night (March 15) in Buffalo Raceway’s $17,500 Open Pace for the fillies and mares.

Sitting sixth just past the half mile marker, Faithful Desire (Kevin Cummings) went first over eagerly, quickly gobbling up ground as she went from five lengths back to two lengths in front in just a quarter of a mile.

Faithful Desire then left little doubt heading down the lane as she notched a :27.4 final panel to dispose of the second-place finisher Dragon Sparks (Joseph Chindano Jr.). Candy’s Desire (Kyle Cummings) and Ideal Chip (Ray Fisher Jr.) finished in a dead heat for third.

Owned by Eva Saintcross and conditioned by Shawn McDonough, it was the third win in seven attempts this season for the 9-year-old Faithful Desire. The victory jacked her 2023 bankroll to $27,179. She paid $14.40 to win.

Chasethecloudsaway (Sunshine Beach-Janns Bid) was ‘chased’ the entire mile, but no one could catch her in the $13,100 sub-featured event for the distaff pacers.

Going off as the heavy favorite, Chasethecloudsaway (Chindano Jr.) took full advantage of the inside post position, racing out to the lead and parking Princesa Alta along the way.

Putting up splits of :29.0, :58.0 and 1:28.1, Chasethecloudsaway ($2.40) only had to deal with eventual runner up She Can Party (Kevin Cummings) down the lane and did so with relative ease. She was able to stroll off to a dialed down 1-1/4 length win in 1:57.1. Ruthmae Hanover (Dan Yetman) took the show spot.

Co-owned by David Del Pozzo and trainer Christopher Petrelli, it was the second victory in four tries for the 6-year-old Chasethecloudsaway. The win moved her earnings to $11,470 on the year.

There were several $11,200 events for the trotters and pacers to spice up the program.

In the initial trotting encounter, Explosive Leggs ($8.80) and Yetman made a last gasp lunge at the wire and nipped the favored BJ Anthony by a nose in 2:01.3.The second bracket had CR Blazin Beauty ($3.00) and Kevin Cummings rolling to their second straight decision with a neck score over Megabank K in 2:00.0.

On the $11,200 pacing side, Bank The Win ($3.50)  ‘banked’ her second consecutive victory with a season’s best 1:56.1 triumph over Fox Valley Charliz while Free Flyin Ticket ($2.30) went gate to wire and crushed the field by open lengths in 1:56.0.

Kevin Cummings completed the evening with four winners in the sulky while Matthew Athearn and Chindano Jr., who made his Buffalo Raceway debut, doubled. James Rothfuss and Shawn McDonough posted training doubles.

Racing will resume on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. with a 13-race program slated.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway