Seasonal best for Black Is Back

HAMBURG, N.Y. — Black Is Back ($3.10) was golden in Buffalo Raceway’s $13,000 Open Pace on Saturday night (June 5) by convincingly topping Endeavors Pride by 2-1/4 lengths in a seasonal best of 1:54.4 over the fast track.

After relinquishing the lead briefly to Mr Ham Sandwich at the start, Black Is Back (Shawn McDonough) regained the advantage and secured reasonable fractions of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:26.4.

Turning for home, the first over Endeavors Pride (Travis Henry) made a brief mild bid but Black Is Back was much too tough and paced home for the solid victory. Endeavors Pride held on for second while Saulsbrook Deputy (Kevin Cummings) finished in third.

Co-owned by Curtis Edholm and Mihajlo Zdjelar Sr. and trained by Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr., it was the second trip to the winner’s circle in seven attempts for Black Is Back. The 8-year-old gelding now has a bankroll of $17,650 in 2021 and $306,626 in his career.

The heavily favored Sir Pugsley (Drew Monti) didn’t mess around and romped to a 1-1/2 length nod over Santana Beach in the $11,500 Class AA Pace. It was the second straight win for Sir Pugsley ($2.70) at Buffalo Raceway and third in four appearances on the Western New York circuit.

Posting times of :29.2, :58.0 and 1:26.4, Sir Pugsley squashed any hopes the remaining four entrants had of winning by cruising home with a :27.2 final quarter. Santana Beach was second while Noahs Mill (David McNeight III) took home the show check.

Conditioned by Rose Russo and owned by Robert Woodburn, it was the fourth victory in 17 attempts on the campaign for Sir Pugsley (American Ideal-Q And A). The 7-year-old horse has bankrolled $27,726 in 2021 and $398,569 in his life.

R J P ($5.80) made it four straight victories, three consecutive in wire to wire fashion, by taking the $10,500 Class A Pace in a seasonal best 1:55. He beat Dojea Solo (McDonough) by a half length while The Lunch Pail (Drew Monti) rounded out the top three.

Zooming to the lead from the start, R J P (Denny Bucceri) went fractions of :29.4, :58.3 and 1:27 and had plenty of gas left in the tank to hold off Dojea Solo and The Lunch Pail.

Trained by James Clouser Jr., the 7-year-old gelded R J P (Somebeachsomewhere-Vysoke Tatry) has won five of 15 starts this season, producing $27,376 in earnings on the season and $347,615 lifetime.
Monti led the drivers with three victories while Bucceri and Kyle Cummings had doubles. Tammy Cummings produced two training victories.

Racing will continue on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with a 13-race card scheduled. The New York Sire Stakes arrives at the Hamburg half mile oval with the 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers battling in the second and third races. There will also be a pair of Excelsior A events and a Excelsior B race.

For more information including the latest news, race replays, entries and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway