Alan changes losses for wins

HAMBURG, N.Y. — After a pair of excruciating harness racing losses in late April, a flip of the calendar to May has changed the fortunes of Alan.

For the second straight week, Alan (Dontyouforgetit-Betty Jean) went gate to wire and blitzed the field with driver Kevin Cummings in the $15,500 Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway on Friday afternoon (May 12). He put away Megabank K by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:57.2 and paid $9.60 to win.

Back in April, Alan looked like a winner, but broken equipment erased those hopes. Then a week later, he suffered a heart wrenching nose setback to Winning Legends. But things are much better now.

After a neck victory over Mugshots Bro last week, Alan stepped back up to Open company and was more than up to the task. Getting off to a quick start off the gate, Alan had no difficulty reaching the point, collecting fractions of :28.1, :58.1 and 1:27.2. Through the lane, Alan stayed strong as Megabank K (Jason Thompson) was in hot pursuit but couldn’t cut into the advantage by the pace setter. Credit List (Jim Morrill Jr.) finished in third.

Owned by Julie Wagonblott and conditioned by Joe Alba, it was the sixth win in 13 outings for the 7-year-old gelded Alan. The score moved his seasonal bankroll to $54,258 and $180,178 in his career.

In the $11,500 Trot, it took Deswanslittlelorie (Swan For All-Devoutly Hanover) nearly a half mile to clear to the top but once she did, she never looked back in registering a 1-3/4 length victory over Batting Stats in 1:58.4 over the fast track for driver Ray Fisher, Jr.

Gracious Triumph took the early lead and posted a first quarter time of :29.3. Deswanslittlelorie in the meantime was stuck on the outside and had to move forward as a hole failed to materialize. Eventually reaching the top just before the half, Deswanslittlelorie had splits of :58.3 and 1:28.3 with a panel to pace.

In the drive down the long home stretch, Deswanslittlelorie was ready for the onslaught from Batting Stats (Morrill Jr.) and Gracious Triumph (Keith Kash Jr.) but those threats nearly materialized. Deswanslittlelorie hit the wire with the comfortable edge over Batting Stats while Gracious Triumph settled for the third place check.

It was the second consecutive win for the 6-year-old mare Deswanslittlelorie. Co-owned by Fox Racing Inc. and R.B.H Ventures Inc., she is trained by Joe Chindano Jr. Now a winner twice in eight tries in 2023, Deswanslittlelorie has now produced $14,435 on the campaign and $227,474 lifetime. She paid $5.30 to win.

Racing will continue on Saturday evening with an 11-race program set to commence at 6 p.m.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway