Open Trot sees track record set

HAMBURG, N.Y. — Biscoe (International Moni-Settheworldonfire) used a big brush down the backstretch and just kept rolling from there as he broke the Buffalo Raceway track record for 4-year-old stallion harness racing trotters on Saturday evening (June 29) with a 1:55.3 tour over the good track in the $12,200 Open II Trot. He snapped the old mark of 1:56.2 established on May 13, 2022, by Barn Hall.

Owned and driven by James McNeight Jr., Biscoe sat fifth through the opening half as Muskingum set the tempo with :28.1 and :57.2. But Biscoe ($13.60) was first up heading down the backstretch the final time and blitzed his way to the lead, leaving Muskingum in his wake.

Turning for home, Biscoe was all alone and used a :28.3 final panel to easily dispose of the favored Treasured Tee (Drew Monti) by 3-3/4 lengths in the record setting time.

Trained by Jim McNeight, the 4-year-old horse Biscoe has now won four times in 13 appearances, producing $33,634 on the year and $107,928 in his young career.

Power And Grace (Holiday Road-Mark Of Honour) was a determined damsel in the $14,000 Open Trot as she notched a hard-fought neck victory over Valentine Express in a seasonal best of 1:56.1 over the good track.

The lone mare in the top-level trotting event, Power And Grace watched Crazy Ritz take an early lead but zoomed back around and set fractions of :28.4, :58.1 and 1:27.2. But things were about to get interesting from there.

With Valentine Express (Kevin Cummings) attacking on the outside and Crazy Ritz (James McNeight Jr.) on the inside, Power And Grace was stubborn and refused to succumb to the onslaught she faced in the drive to the wire. Her extremely strong will approaching the finish line resulted in her eighth victory of the season.

Owned by Hartel Maintenance LLC, Lormer McClure, Brett MacDonald and Reg Higgs, the 9-year-old Power And Grace is trained by Ronald MacDonald. The win upped her seasonal earnings to $61,720 and $442,382 lifetime. She paid $3.70 to win.

Mach Le More A (Mach Three-Runs On Love) needed every inch of the track before eventually sneaking past Vel Mr Nice Guy by a half a length in 1:53.1 in producing the victory in the $14,000 Open Pace.

With Better Take It and Davey Day Trader duking it out the front end, they’d soon give up the top two spots to the first over Vel Mr Nice Guy (Joseph Chindano Jr.) and Mach Le More A (John Cummings Jr.).

It appeared that Vel Mr Nice Guy, who turned for home first, might hold on for the win but Mach Le More A used one final, gutsy surge to collect the victory in the shadow of the wire. Trente Deo (Jim Morrill Jr.) was third.

Co-owned by Marissa Russo and Fac Racing LLC and conditioned by David Russo, the 9-year-old gelded Mach Le More A has collected $55,825 on the campaign and $316,727 lifetime. He paid $9.30 to win.

Chindano Jr. had four victories on the program, Kevin Cummings tripled with McNeight Jr. notching a double. Samuel Smith had three training scores and Maggie Chindano two.

Racing will resume on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with an 11-race card set. The New York Sire Stakes returns once again with a $108,200 race for the 2-year-old filly trotters. There will also be a pair of $20,000 events for the young ladies in the Excelsior Series. There is an $861 carryover in the Pick 5 which begins in the second race.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway