Sand Savage played the old give-and-go with Mr Perserverance and kept right on going to the winner's circle in the featured $10,500 Open I-II Pace at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (June 13).
The victory kept a torrid streak going for the eight-year-old Sand Savage (Allamerican Native-Sheer Hose). In his last seven starts, he has five wins and a pair of narrow second-place finishes.
Mr Perserverance (Shawn Gray) managed to get to the top from the three post, but that it was short-lived as the rail-sitting Sand Savage took command before the quarter pole. Setting splits of :27.4, :57.1 and 1:26, Sand Savage awaited the cavalry charge in the stretch. While it looked like it might develop, driver Jim McNeight kept Sand Savage on task and held off Mr Perserverance and Cobble Beach (Kevin Cummings), who finished in second and third, respectively. The margin of victory was a length in a time of 1:54.3.
Co-owned by trainer Richard Roth along with Randy and Robert Roth, Sand Savage has now earned $41,353 in 2015 and $406,067 lifetime.
In the co-featured $8,800 conditioned pace, Burton Blue Chip (Lee Dahn) used a late kick in the stretch to pull the $25.80 stunner in a career-best of 1:54.2.
It seemed like it was going to be a three-horse battle to the finish line between Big Bossman, Peenie and Ponyta Boy. But a rousing drive to the wire by Burton Blue Chip on the far outside made it a four-horse contest. It turned into a blanket finish with Burton Blue Chip a head in front in the photo while Peenie (Cummings) and Big Bossman (Gray) ended up in a dead-heat for second.
Burton Blue Chip (American Ideal-Crickets Can Talk) is co-owned by trainer Lee Dahn and Larry Dahn. It was the second win of the season for the six-year-old gelding, now a winner of $16,698 this year and $97,109 lifetime.
Racing will continue on Sunday afternoon at Buffalo Raceway with a 10-race card set to begin at 1:05 p.m.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)