Things sure looked bleak for Won For Gigi in Buffalo Raceway's $15,500 Open Pace for the fillies and mares on Wednesday afternoon (June 14).
Hopelessly boxed in seventh and last with a quarter mile to pace, driver James McNeight Jr. somehow wiggled Won For Gigi out, swung five-wide in the stretch drive and posted a stunning come from behind $40.80 victory over Filly Speaks in 1:56.4 over the fast track.
Bank The Win battled with the favoured Miss Rockadali for command in the early going. Notching fractions of :28, :57.1 and 1:26.3, Bank The Win (David McNeight III) was bracing for the assault from the closers down the lane. Filly Speaks, Miss Rockadali and Isla Seelster were all within serious striking distance with Won For Gigi still just an afterthought.
But the complexion of the race soon changed as Won For Gigi, who arrived from Northfield Park with three consecutive second-place finishes, was now on the scene, racing five-wide and flying. She managed to swoop the group and shocked Filly Speaks (Kyle Cummings) by a half length with Miss Rockadali (Jim Morrill Jr.) taking third.
Owned and trained by Cory Deyermand, the nine-year-old Won For Gigi (Santanna Blue Chip-Docs Lioness) has won twice in 21 starts on the season, earning $22,903 and $255,996 in her lifetime.
Things in the $11,500 sub-featured pace for the ladies wasn't as dramatic as Fox Valley Charliz ($3.50) had no issues in rolling to a 3-1/2 length win over Bet Im Lucky in 1:56.4.
After a narrow three-quarter length loss back on May 31 in this class, Fox Valley Charliz was leaving nothing to chance this go round.
Dropping in third early, Fox Valley Charliz wanted the lead and Morrill Jr. gave her instructions to go. With fractions of :29.1, :58.4 and 1:28.1 in the books, Fox Valley Charliz had to deal with Bet Im Lucky (McNeight Jr.) and Dragon Sparks (Joseph Chindano Jr.) at the top of stretch. Those rallies never materialized as Fox Valley Charliz cruised home uncontested.
Co-owned by Jeffrey Fox and Eric Cohen and conditioned by Christpher Petrelli, the nine-year-old Fox Valley Charliz (Sportsmaster-Red Hot Lady) earned her third win in 12 appearances on the campaign and lifted her bankroll to $34,905 on the year and $272,102 lifetime.
Kevin Cummings, McNeight III and McNeight Jr. all had driving doubles on the program.
Racing will continue on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with an 11-race program to be presented.
(Buffalo Raceway)