Big rallies resulted in big prices in the featured trotting events at Buffalo Raceway on Friday afternoon (May 19).
Ontario-owned Fireinsidemyveins ($22.40) set the field ablaze in the $15,500 Open Trot with a resounding 2-3/4-length victory over J S Hopscotch in 1:59 over the fast track. Earlier in the program, Lady Ruth ($38.20) set the longshot tone by scoring a nose win over J S Swanman to take a $11,500 trot.
It was an impressive move by Fireinsidemyveins which keyed the victory. Sitting seventh and nearly eight lengths back at the half-mile pole, Fireinsidemyveins (Ray Fisher Jr.) inched to the outside and was ready to start his journey to the top from there. Midway down the backstretch the final time, Fireinsidemyveins was three-wide, gobbling up ground, but still fifth hitting the three-quarter pole.
The momentum from the big brush by Fireinsidemyveins continued down the stretch as the four-year-old buried the field into submission when hitting the wire. J S Hopscotch (Kyle Cummings) finished in second with Muskingum (Joseph Chindano Jr.) taking third. Alan, who had set the fractions of :29.1 :58.2 and 1:29.1, broke stride at the top of the lane and finished seventh.
Owned by Gary Lance of Port Perry, Ont. and conditioned by James Clouser Jr., four-year-old Fireinsidemyveins (Muscle Mass-Prize Angie) found the winner's circle for the first time in seven attempts this season. His earnings increased to $15,610 for 2023 and $115,604 for his career.
It was a mad scramble to the wire in the sub-featured trot with Lady Ruth (David McNeight III) taking the four-horse photo. J S Swanman (Kevin Cummings) suffered the tough nose loss while Cr Blazin Beauty (John Cummings Jr.) and Batting Stats (Justin Huckabone) finished in third and fourth, respectively, just a head behind the winner.
The favoured CR Blazin Beauty stomped out the fractions with times of :29, :59.4 and 1:30.1, but a wall of side-winders were in hot pursuit in the stretch with Lady Ruth capturing the wild dash to the finish line.
Trained by Jennifer Giuliani and owned by Paul Lang of Paramus, New Jersey, four-year-old mare Lady Ruth (Uncle Peter-Sun Sentinel) earned her it was the fifth victory in 16 outings this year. The triumph put Lady Ruth's bankroll at $36,250 this year and $115,621 lifetime.
Fisher Jr. and Kevin Cummings each had driving triples on the day with McNeight III getting a pair. Swift and Samuel Smith collected a pair of training victories.
Racing will continue on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. with a 12-race card. There's a $669 carryover in the Pick 5, which starts in the second race.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)