Rebel Voyager got a perfect voyage around Buffalo Raceway on Saturday, April 6 and posted a half-length victory over Heaven Rocks in a seasonal best 1:55.4 to take the featured $11,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Drafting behind the pacesetter Bugatti through splits of :29.1, :57.4 and 1:27.2, Rebel Voyager cruised by in the stretch and held off the hard-charging Heaven Rocks by a diminishing half length.
Co-owned by the Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Pine Hill Racing LTD, it was the fourth victory in seven appearances for the five-year-old gelded Rebel Voyager (Shanghai Phil-Pan Voyage). Trained by Maria Rice, the win jumped Rebel Voyager's seasonal earnings to $20,146 and $126,371 lifetime. Billy Davis Jr. sat in the bike.
In the two sub-featured $10,000 Class A pacing events, both winners went gate-to-wire. Andys Ideal ($18.60) never looked back for driver Mike Caprio in scoring a half length decision over Harry Hoo N in 1:56.1. In the other division, Lucan Hanover ($2.50), driven by Billy Davis Jr., made his Buffalo Raceway debut a good one with a popular neck victory over Rose Run Ranger.
Davis Jr. completed the evening with four wins while Kevin Cummings had a driving double. Rice conditioned a pair of winners.
Racing will continue on Wednesday, April 10 at 5 p.m. with a nine-race program slated. There's a $1,693 carryover in the Pick 5 which begins in the second race.
(with files from Buffalo Raceway)