Three-wide move gets Summer Slash’s photo taken

HAMBURG, N.Y. — It was the perfect setup for Summer Slash (Downbytheseaside-Before The Poison) in Buffalo Raceway’s $12,200 for the distaff harness racing pacers on a drizzly Wednesday afternoon (April 24).

As the early speedsters literally did the dirty work, Summer Slash bided her time and then cleaned up in the lane to take the $27.40 shocker over Shecouldbegood N in 1:56.0 over the good track.

Summer Slash (Ray Fisher Jr.) watched the early action from seventh and last as Shecouldbegood N and Shooting Brooke battled for the lead. Clearing just past the opening half in :56.1, Shecouldbegood N was in command but the closers started the salivate with Hurrikane Msrodine and Summer Sash making their moves on the outside.

There was no contest down the stretch as Summer Slash flew past Shecouldbegood N (Jim Morrill Jr.) while Hurrikane Msrodine (Kevin Cummings) settled for third.

Owned by Ilovemyharnesshorsesummer and trained by Ryan Swift, it was the first score of the season for the 5-year-old mare Summer Slash. The victory upped her bankroll to $14,830 and $110,239 lifetime.

In the sub-featured $10,400 pace for the ladies, the heavily favored Arco N ($3.20) didn’t disappoint in notching her second consecutive victory, a four-length drubbing of Louie The Lilac in 1:55.3.

Arco N (Shadow Play-Special Harmony) made it two straight impressive wins with a four length in the opener. After a 1-3/4 length triumph last week, a step up in class didn’t faze her one bit.

Scoring from the five post, Arco N (Billy Davis Jr.) was able to grab the top in a snappy :27.4. With Louie The Lilac (Cummings) drafting behind in second, Arco N was on a mission and used splits of :56.3 and 1:25.3.

Rounding into the home stretch, those ambitious fractions proved to be more than enough as Louie The Lilac had absolutely no answers for Arco N and took second. McNatural N (David McNeight III) rolled in for the show position.

Co-owned by Vogel & Wags Nags LLC and Team Rice Racing LLC, it was the second win in seven starts in 2024 for Arco N. Trained by Maria Rice, the 8-year-old has now produced $13,730 in earnings on the year and $28,270 in her lifetime.

McNeight III and Cummings each tripled on the program with Davis Jr. and Morrill Jr. each grabbing two. Samuel Smith and Tammy Cummings each had training doubles.

Racing returns on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with a 10-race program set.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway