It turned out to be a masterpiece for Artistic Spirit in the $20,000 Jumpstart Series final at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday afternoon (April 19) as she beat Bet Im Lucky by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.1 over the fast track.
Artistic Spirit pulled the mild $14.40 surprise behind the perfect guidance of driver Jim Morrill Jr. It was one of five victories on the card for Morrill Jr.
Lucky Town showed the way in the early going by posting fractions of :28.2 and :57.3 to the half. Penneys Spirit, part of the heavily favoured entry with Seafood Sweetheart, went first over and brought along Artistic Spirit with that cover to the three-quarter marker. Lucky Town called it a day from there, which left Artistic Spirit, Bet Im Lucky and eventually Chipper Daisy to battle it out for the crown.
Artistic Spirit got the jump and surged to the lead at the top of the long stretch while Bet Im Lucky (Kevin Cummings) and Chipper Daisy (Keith Kash Jr.) made their valiant bids as well. In the end, Artistic Spirit maintained her advantage to the wire with Bet Im Lucky and Chipper Daisy having to settle for second and third place, respectively.
Owned by Michael Torcello and trained by Samuel Smith, Artistic Spirit (Artspeak-Ravinia Hanover) earned her second win of the campaign -- both coming in the Jumpstart Series, which was for horses with a Trackmaster Rating of 70 or less. The victory moved her 2023 bankroll to $29,421 and lifetime earnings to $106,161.
In the $13,500 Open I-II Pace for the fillies and mares, Free Flyin Ticket ($3.30) had things her own way again, but it wasn't as easy as last week, as she beat American Delight N by a neck in 1:56.3.
In her previous outing, Free Flyin Ticket posted a 10-3/4-length romp in 1:57. She was faster this time but had just enough left in the tank to hold off the late-closing American Delight N (Morrill Jr.) and Bettor Country (Joseph Chindano Jr.).
Driver Kyle Cummings fired Free Flyin Ticket right to the point from the four-hole and registered fractions of :28.1, :57 and 1:26.1. Enjoying a three-length margin with a panel to pace, Free Flyin Ticket felt the pressure coming toward the finish line and persevered the late onslaught from American Delight N and Bettor Country.
Conditioned by James Clouser Jr. and owned by Beasty LLC, six-year-old Free Flyin Ticket (Betterthancheddar-Free Ticket) earned her third victory in 13 tries this year. She has now produced $31,155 in earnings this season and $285,129 in her career.
Besides Morril Jr.'s five-bagger, Kevin Cummings collected a triple and Kyle Cummings had a double. Judith Blaun, David Russo, Clouser Jr. and Smith all had two training wins.
Racing will resume on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., with a 12-race card set. The $25,000 Jumpstart Series finals for horses with a Trackmaster Rating of 73 or less to will be contested along with the $15,500 Open Trot and $13,500 Open II Trot.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)