Hometown Harness Rankings
The Best at Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs
Here's one observer's opinion of the current pecking order in Western New York harness racing (with Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs starts, firsts, second, thirds, earnings, gait, fastest winning mile, trainer, driver and date of last race.) Horses are dropped if they haven't raced in a month. Buffalo Raceway raced through July 26. Batavia Downs opened July 27. Your opinions and suggestions are always welcome by e-mail at rsummers@buffnews.com.
1. Arm And A Leg (37-12-10-1, $80,480, p, 1:54 2/5. John Cummings Sr., Dan Dylo, 11/14): Last year's top pacer and the circuit's richest horse in 2009 won for the 12th time this year with a wire-to-wire victory in 1:55 3/5 at Batavia Downs on Oct. 31 from post 5 in the $8,500 Open Pace. ... Co-owned by trainer John Cummings Sr. of Hamburg and Mark Jakubik of West Seneca.
2. Jack Sparrow (31-9-3-4, $57,290, t, 1:58 2/5. Jim McNeight, Jim McNeight, 11/13): Last year's top horse won the $8,000 Open Trot in a season's best 1:59 on Aug. 21 to become the richest trotter in Western New York . ... His win in 1:59 3/5 in the $9,000 Open Handicap on Aug. 7 put his bankroll over the $40,000 mark for 2009. ... He went over $50,000 with a victory in 1:59 4/5 on Oct. 2. ... Owned by Michael Calimeri of Falconer.
3. Scotts Rolls Royce (27-11-7-4, $50,175, 1:54 4/5. Gregory Luther, Jimmy Whismani, 10/24): Classy $20,000 claimer won his 11th local race of the season in 1:54 4/5 by stepping up in class and taking the $9,000 Open Pace on Aug. 15. ... Competed unsuccessfully in the $40,000 Kane Memorial on Oct. 10.
4. New York Prime (9-7-1-0, $26,395, p, 1:54. Alex Giuliani, Tom Agosti, 11/14): 6-year-old gelding won six in a row after arriving from Vernon Downs on Sept. 18. ... Claimed by Richey Myers for $8,000 on Sept. 25, then stepped up to win two Open III races and took the $8,500 Open Handicap on Oct. 17 with a lifetime mark of 1:54.
5. Pembroke Primo (28-11-4-5, $53,968, p, 1:56 1/5. John Cummings Sr., John Cummings Jr., 11/11): Broke a four-race losing streak with a victory in 1:57 2/5 in the $8,500 Fillies & Mares Open on Sept. 16. ... Then won the $8,500 Fillies & Mares Open in 1:57 2.5 on Sept. 30. ... Won the $8,000 Fillies & Mares Open in the slop in 1:59 1/5 on Oct. 28 to push her local earnings over $50,000 for 2009. ... Owned by trainer John Cummings Sr. of Hamburg and Mark Jakubik of West Seneca, the same connections at Arm And A Leg. ... Is 7-2 on the morning line from post 5 in the $8,000 Fillie & Mares Open (Race 7) on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
6. Up Front Northern (41-16-4-6, $56,129, p, 1:56 3/5. Dennis Millner, Jimmy Whisman, 11/13): 10-year-old gelding by Northern Luck won the $21,500 Niatross Series final to become the richest horse of the meet at the time. ... Won his 14th of the year on Oct. 16 with a wide closing move that climaxed a 1:57 2/5 mile against $6,000 claimers. ... Win No. 15 came on Oct. 30 when he drew the rail against $6,000 claimers in 1:58 3/5. ... And No. 16 was a 1:58 2/5 first-over effort also for a $6,000 price tag. The $2,250 winner's share made him the third-richest local pacer of 2009. ... Owned by David Phoenix of Valley City, Ohio.
7. Outlaws Ransome (28-9-2-4, $35,955, p, 1:54 3/5. Alex Giuliani, Tom Agosti, 10/24): 8-year-old gelding raced with a $15,000 claiming tag and won the $7,500 Open II Pace on Sept. 12 in a season's best 1:54 3/5 to post his seventh win in eight starts. ... Followed up with a victory from post 1 in the $8,000 Open Pace on Sept. 19. ... Owned by Richey Myers of Phoenix, Ariz., who claimed him for $10,000 on Sept. 5.
8. Oh Gee Whiz (35-5-6-9, $51,870, p, 1:55. Dennis Millner, Sam Schillaci, 11/14): Won a $7,500 Open 1-2 pace in a season's best 1:55 on Oct. 3. ... Took the $9,000 Open Handicap in 1:55 4/5 on Nov. 14. Owned by David Slyman of Richfield, Ohio.
9. KFB Espada (22-15-0-1, $37,886, t, 1:58 4/5. Mike Delano, Tom Agosti, 11/18): The "Win Machine" returned from a layoff for his 15th local win of the season on Nov. 11. ... Was Buffalo Raceway Horse of the Month for June and Horse of the Year for the 2009 meet. ... Owned by Joseph Cicatello of Hamburg.
10. Natural Spring (8-3-1-1, $12,641, p, 1:55 4/5. Alex Giuliani, Tom Agosti, 11/11): 4-year-old mare romped to victory in 1:55 4/5 to take the $9,000 Fillies & Mare Open Handicap/Optional Claimer one week after being claimed for $14,500 by owner Richey Myers of Phoenix from Carl Monti of Depew and trainer Darrin Monti. ... She was racing with a claiming price of $23,375. ... Is the 5-2 morning line favorite from post 2 in the $8,000 Fillies & Mares Open (Race 7) on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Special Mention
Joe Page (17-7-3-2, $31,547, t, 1:58 3/5. Mike Delano, Sam Schillaci, 11/13): 4-year-old gelding won his third straight Open Handicap Trot on Oct. 30. ... Owned by Joseph Cicatello of Hamburg.
Regal Peace (25-11-7-6, $22,890, p, 1:58 1/5. Tom Agosti, Tom Agosti, 11/10): King of the bottom claimers returned to his winning ways with a 2:01 victory with a $3,000 price tag on Oct. 30. ... Owned by Dan Goehle of Lancaster.
Ima Cricket Also (40-8-5-7, $49,747, t, 1:59 3/5. D.J. Millner, Ron Beback Jr., 11/13): Highly consistent mare took her eighth win in 2:00 1/5 on Oct. 30 and boosted her bankroll into third place among the local trotters. ... Owned by David Slyman of Richfield, Ohio.
Kissimmee Dream (8-2-0-0, $3,400, t, 2:04 1/5. Neal Russo, Ray Fisher Jr., 10/28): 6-year-old gelding won in the slop at 200-1 on Oct. 9. His payoff of $405.50 for a $2 win bet was the biggest Western New York payoff since July 19, 2001 when Gould Magic returned $483. ... Two races later, he won in the slop from the 8 hole in 2:04 1/5.
Time and money rankings at Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs:
Fastest winning pacers: 1:52 2/5 (Batavia TR for 3yo colt), OK Braveheart (9/4); 1:52 3/5, Hypnotic Blue Chip (9/4); 1:52 3/5, Foiled Again (10/10); 1:53, Handsome Harry (9/4); 1:54, Robin of Locksley (9/5); 1:54, Cinderella Guy (10/10); 1:54, New York Prime (10/17).
Fastest winning trotters: 1:57 4/5, (Batavia TR for 3yo colt), Russell Hill (7/31); 1:57 4/5, Four Starz Speed (9/4); 1:58 1/5, Fessup Fred (9/4); 1:58 1/5, Scorpion Moon (10/10); 1:58 2/5, Baby Boy Grin (6/12).
Richest pacers: Arm And A Leg ($80,480), Jezzabell Hotspur ($63,010), Up Front Northern ($56,129), Pembroke Primo ($53,968), OK Braveheart ($52,981).
Richest trotters: Jack Sparrow ($55,040), Ima Cricket Also ($49,747), Australian Stock ($49,574), Big Sky Domino ($42,908), A Work In Progress ($41,685).
Fastest final quarters by winning pacers: 27 2/5 seconds, OK Braveheart (6/21, won in 1:56 2/5); 27 2/5, Hypnotic Blue Chip (9/4, won in 1:52 3/5); 27 3/5, Arm And A Leg (5/23, 1:54 4/5); 27 3/5, Jettacar (6/6, 1:55 4/5); 27 3/5, Outa My Head (6/21, 1:57 4/5).
Fastest final quarters by winning trotters: 28 4/5 seconds, Brandnewgirlfriend (6/7, won in 1:59 1/5); 29 seconds, A Work In Progress (3/6, won in 1:59 4/5),Cade Callahan (5/8, 2:00 2/5), Building Wealth (5/22, 1:58 3/5),Danijill (6/7, 2:01 4/5) and Fessup Fred (9/4, 1:58 1/5).
On The Mark
Congratulations to the following horses for recently setting new lifetime marks.
Pacers
1:56 2/5, Y-City Jet: 6-year-old gelding by Jet Laag (lifetime mark, 1:49) earned $1,900 for his ninth win in 97 starts on Oct. 20. ... Trainer/driver Lee Dahn sent him to the top in 28 1/5, 57 3/5, 1:26 3/5 as he knocked 1 2/5 seconds off his old mark of 1:57 4/5 set at Buffalo Raceway on June 21, 2008. ... Owned by Lee, Arlene and Larry Dahn of South Dayton, N.Y.
1:56 2/5, Michael’s Jewel: 4-year-old gelding by Western Hanover (1:50 4/5) earned $2,500 with his 10th in in 56 starts on Nov. 10. … Everyday Colt set all the fractions ( 28 1/5, 57 4/5, 1:27 2/5) before driver Tom Agosti pulled away for a 6 ˝-length win and sliced three-fifths of a second off his previous mark of 1:57 set at Yonkers Raceway earlier in 2009. … Trained by Alex Giuliani for Benjamin Drongosky of Snyder.
1:56 4/5, Dwight’s Charlene: 4-year-old daughter of Neutralize (1:54) banked $1,900 with her 12th win in 53 starts on Nov. 10. … American Thighs cut the first half in 28 3/5, 59 before Jim McNeight took her to the front in 1:27 3/5 and knocked three-fifths of a second off her previous mark of 1:57 2/5 set in her previous start on Nov. 3. … Trained by Jim Graham for Cadesway Stable of Alden.
1:56 4/5, Court Circuit: 4-year-old mare by Electric Stena (1:59 2/5) earned $2,000 with here fifth win in 38 starts on Nov. 18 in her first Western New York Start. ... Driver Ken Holliday left from the 8 hole and had her in front all the way in 29, 58 4/5, 1:28 en route to smashing her previous mark of 1:57 4/5 set at Hippodrome Montreal in 2007. ... Trained by Sherri Holliday for owner Guy Corbell of Mirabel, Quebec.
1:58 2/5, Just A Moment: 3-year-old gelding by Village Jove (1:49 4/5) earned $1,700 for his eighth win in 24 starts on Nov. 14. ... He won by 3 1/4 lengths in a wire-to-wire effort for driver Troy Boring in 28 2/5, 1:00 1/5 and 1:29 4/5. ... Took a full second off his previous mark of 1:58 2/5 set at Batavia Downs in his previous start on Nov. 7. ... Trained by Jim Compton of East Bethany, who owns him with wife Sandra Compton and Harry Wortzman of Batavia.
1:59 2/5, Pro Bono Frank: 5-year-old gelding by Pro Bono Best (1:51) earned $1,700 with his fifth win in 54 races on Oct. 31. ... PW Rainbow (28 1/5), then Snooker Ball (59) then PW Rainbow again (1:29 2/5) battled before driver/trainer/co-owner Clint Galbraith got him home to trim four-fifths off the previous mark of 2:00 1/5 set at Batavia Downs on Sept. 3, 2008.
1:59 3/5, Sea Suds: 3-year-old colt by Riverboat King (1:48 3/5) earned $1,700 with his fifth win in 27 starts on Nov. 14. ... McSweetheart (28 2/5) and Stano Stud Leroy (59 1/5, 1:28 4/5) cut the mile before driver Jimmy Whisman got him home by three-quarters of a length and sliced two-fifths off his previous mark of 2:00 set at Monticello in 2009. ... Trained by Laurie Patistas for owner Joseph R. Dunn of Hamburg.
2:00 2/5, Miss Green's Dream: 3-year-old filly by Dream Away (1:50) earned $1,400 with her fourth win in 27 starts on Oct. 30. ... Ray Fisher Jr. had her in front all the way in 29 1/5, 1:00 and 1:30 2/5 while trimming 1 1/5 off her previous mark of 2:01 3/5 set at Monticello earlier in 2009. ... Trained by Neal Russo for Barbara Russo of Blasdell.
2:00 3/5, The Blues Man: 3-year-old gelding by Nobleland Sam (1:51 2/5) earned $1,400 with his second win in 20 starts on Nov. 18. ... Triple T Ladonna (29 1/5, 1:00 3/5) led the way until driver/trainer Charles Bacon took over in 1:30 1/5. ... Owned by Joseph Cicatello of Hamburg.
Trotters
2:00 3/5, Solar Kash: 4-year-old son of El Paso Kash (1:57 1/5) won $1,900 with his fifth victory in 15 starts on Nov. 7. … Owner/trainer/driver Clint Galbraith of Scottsville got him up in time after Industrial Strenth (29 4/5) and Queen Creek (58 4/5, 1:29 4/5) cut the mile to trim 2 3/5 seconds off his previou mark of 2:03 1/5 set at Batavia Downs on Sept. 30.
2:02 2/5, Lombomba Blue Chip: 3-year-old son of Credit Winner (1:54) earned $1,400 with his second win in 23 starts on Nov. 18. ... Driver Jack Flanigen took him wire to wire from the 6 hole in 30, 1:01 and 1:31 4/5 to trim 1 2/5 seconds from his previous mark of 2:03 4/5 set at Batavia Downs on Sept. 30. ... Trained by Allan McCarty of Hamburg, who owns him with Robert Kowalewski of Alden.
2:02 3/5, Jodie Tempest: 4-year-old daughter of Fortuna Winner (1:56 1/5) earned $1,500 with her fifth win in 51 starts on Nov. 4 in her Western New York debut at Batavia Downs … Trained To Trot set the fractions (28 4/5, 1:00 1/5, 1:30 3/5) before Kevin Cummings drove her to victory and trimmed two seconds off her previous mark of 2:04 3/5 set at Three Rivers, Quebec in 2008. … Trained by Brenda Ohol of Lockport who owns her with Nickel City Ranch Stable of Orchard Park.
2:03 2/5, Gravell IT: 6-year-old pregnant Italian-bred mare by Buvetier D'aunou earned $1,400 with her fifth win in 24 starts on Oct. 21, improving her previous mark of 2:04 3/5 set at Batavia Downs in here previous start on Oct. 14. ... Evergreen cut the first quarter in 30 1/5 before driver Jack Flanigen put her on top in 1:01 1/5, 1:32 2/5. ... Trained by Gary Gregory for Thomas Hicks of Pompano Beach, Fla.
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