Sloppy track no problem for The Irishman

HAMBURG, N.Y. — No luck was needed for The Irishman (Cantab Hall-Demoselle Hanover) at Buffalo Raceway on Friday night (March 31) as he strolled away with a four-length harness racing victory over Gruden in the featured $13,100 trot in 2:01 over the sloppy track.

Gruden was the commander of fractions with splits of :30.1, 1:00.4 and 1:31.3. The Irishman perfectly drafted behind Gruden, and it was just a matter of time before driver Jim McNeight Jr. decided to go with him. That winning move occurred around the final turn and The Irishman powerfully rushed past the second-best Gruden and easily collected the win. Sanchez Rocks (John Cummings Jr.) took third.

Co-owned by Amy Cable, Cable Farms, Jim McNeight and G. Ryder, it was the first victory in two outings this season for The Irishman. The win jacked his 2023 bankroll to $9,825 and $113,023 in his career. He paid $4.70 to win.

There were a pair of $11,200 trotting events to highlight the undercard.

In the first division, it was ‘ladies first’ as the lone mare in the race, Muskingum (Triumphant Caviar-Abbey Craig), wired the field and scored a 1-1/2 length victory over BJAnthony in 2:01.4.

Scoring from the rail, driver Joseph Chindano Jr. cruised right off the starting gate with Muskingum and took control. Posting fractions of :30.2, 1:01.0 and 1:32.0, Muskingum had no anxious moments in the race to the wire and posted a solid win over BJAnthony (David McNeight III). Le Millenaire (Jim Morrill Jr.) took the show spot.

Owned by Fox Racing and trained by Chindano Jr., it was the second victory in four appearances for the 6-year-old Muskingum. The win took her seasonal earnings to $10,394 and $185,554 in her career. She paid $3.00 to win.

Jumpinthejailhouse (Jailhouse Jesse-Illiad’s Lady) was able to sneak through along the passing lane late and notched a half a length score over J-S Swanman in 2:03.1.

It was a miserable start for J-S Swanman as he broke stride and spotted the field at least 10 lengths early. But Jim Morrill Jr. got the trotter back in stride and amazingly got the lead, opening up five lengths hitting the half. But the tough comeback eventually spelled doom for J-S Swanman.

The field closed in on J-S Swanman with a quarter mile to go. Jumpinthejailhouse (Christian Myers) was the quickest down the lane, dropping two deep in the passing lane and managed to trot on by J-S Swanman while Lunar Credit (McNeight Jr.) was third.

Trained by Kris Rickert and co-owned by Louis Di Nicola and Dale Wareham, it was the third win in eight tries in 2023 for the 11-year-old Jumpinthejailhouse. The victory upped his earnings to $19,010 on the campaign and $314,576 in his career. He paid $8.00 to win.

Racing will resume on Saturday night at 6 p.m. with a 12-race card slated.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway