Spring Up Series Final to Heavens Fury

HAMBURG, N.Y. — Heavens Fury (Muscle Mass-Seven Heavens) got sharp at the right time as the 4-year-old mare captured the $22,500 Spring Up final for the trotters on Friday afternoon (June 7) at Buffalo Raceway with a resounding 1-1/2 length harness racing victory over Retha Babe in 2:00.4 over the fast track.

At the start of the Series back on May 17, Heavens Fury found the winner’s circle just once in 11 starts in 2024. And after a tough sixth place finish in the first leg of the Spring Up, Heavens Fury finally got things going.

In the next two races, Heavens Fury was victorious in both starts, thus easily earning a spot in the championship round.

But things didn’t come easy for Heavens Fury in the title race. Stuck in the middle of a three-horse scrum for early supremacy, Heavens Fury finally got the lead and was able to park Pennant Seelster out to dry along the way.

With splits of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:29.2, Pennant Seelster threw in the towel heading down the backstretch the final time while the pocket sitting Finnick Odair was ready to take on Heavens Fury.

That attempt quickly fizzled out as Heavens Fury (Jim Morrill Jr.) opened up a commanding two length margin turning for home and never looked back. Retha Babe (Kyle Cummings) won the mad scramble for second place with Daisys Duchess (Ray Fisher Jr.) collecting the show position.

Owned by Shawn Beghtol and trained by James Clouser Jr., it was the fourth victory in 14 starts on the season for Heavens Fury. The win jumped her earnings to $36,583 on the campaign and $90,320 lifetime. She paid $3.20 to win.

There were plenty of driving doubles on the program as Kevin Cummings, David McNeight III, James McNeight Jr. and Kyle Cummings all had two victories each. James McNeight, and Tammy Cummings each scored two training wins apiece.

There’s a big 12-race card on Saturday evening starting at 6 p.m. The card is highlighted by a $25,000 Spring Up Series finale, the $14,000 Open Trot along with $12,000 Open II pacing and trotting events.

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 by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway