Hometown Harness Rankings
The Best at Buffalo Raceway
By Robert J. Summers --News Sports Reporter
Updated: 05/08/08 1:49 PM
The harness racing season is in full swing and the trotters and pacers are in midseason form. We've already seen 24 miles go in under 1:58, 14 horses earn more than $15,000 in purse money and about a half-dozen animals with credentials good enough to claim to be the "best on the grounds."
Here's one observer's opinion of the 2008 pecking order at the Hamburg oval (with Buffalo Raceway starts, firsts, second, thirds, earnings, gait, fastest winning mile, trainer, driver and date of last race.)
1.Jack Sparrow (10-4-4-0, $31,875, t, 2:00. Jim McNeight, Jim McNeight, 5/3): Michael Calimeri of Falconer owns the meet's richest horse who climbed over the $30,000 earnings mark with a front-trotting victory from the 7 hole in 2:01 2/5 on May 3. ... McNeight said "This horse loves the mud, and he showed it tonight.” ... This 5-year-old gelded son of Humorous Harry has won 26 of 75 lifetime starts. ... Drew the far outside No. 7 spot for the second race on Saturday, May 10.
2. Gemini Jeannie (11-5-1-3, $24,798, p, 1:58. Angelo Nappo, Dan Yetman, 5/2): This 7-year-old mare owned by Jennifer Mann of West Seneca won on April 18 with an eye-catching last-to-first stretch explosion (last quarter in 28 2/5 seconds) to cross the line in 1:58 in the Open III Handicap for fillies and mares and become the meet's second five-time winner. ... She started the season by winning four straight against $30,000 claiming mares, all in under 2:00 before finishing second from a tough post on April 11. ... Had traffic problems early before closing fast to be fourth on May 2. ... She's a daughter of Hall of Famer Cam's Card Shark, 1994 Horse of the Year. ... Drew the 8 post in the eighth race on Friday, May 9.
3. Eddy Kash (11-4-3-0, $24,615, t, 2:01 1/5. Paul Szalay Jr., Ray Fisher Jr., 5/3): Classy gelding owned by Edmund and Marilynn Callahan of Hamburg came from far back to be second to Jack Sparrow on May 3. ... He won at Tioga Downs last year in 1:56 2/5. ... Drew the No. 5 post in the second race on Saturday, May 10.
4 Saving Lives (11-4-3-1, $22,750, p, 2:00 3/5. Jim McNeight, Jim McNeight, 4/26): McNeight and Calimeri's classy stable also includes the meet's third-leading money winner in this 6-year-old gelded son of Cambest (world record setter in 1993 with a time-trial mile in 1:46 1/5). ... Was scratched lame on May 3.
5. Northern Gale(11-3-2-2, $18,865, p, 1:58 1/5. Steve Nelson, Jim McNeight, 5/3): Finished third in the $9,000 Open Handicap for the second straight week on April 26, then was out of the money on May 3. ... 7-year-old gelding is owned by Steve Nelson and Sandra Lee Cory of Akron. ... Wears No. 3 in the 10th race on Saturday, May 10.
6. Five Card Cam(9-3-1-1, $17,780, p, 1:56 3/5. Keith Kash Jr., Keith Kash Jr. 4/26): Won a four-horse photo by a nose to take the $9,000 Open Handicap on April 19 in 1:56 3/5, co-fastest mile of the year and driver Tom Agosti's 1,000th career win. ... Agosti picked up the mount because Kash (the leading Buffalo Raceway trainer and driver), left early to go to Cleveland, where he won Northfield Park's $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie behind Bono Bests. ... Leaves from post 4 in the seventh race on Saturday, May 10.
7. Smarty Merit (10-4-1-1, $16,765, p, 1:56 4/5. Ron Beback Jr., Ron Beback Jr., 5/3): His flying-finish victory in 1:56 4/5 on April 26 was the 7-year-old gelding's third win in four starts for Beback and owner James Dunn, who claimed him for $10,000 on March 12. ... Has the 5 hole in the seventh race on Saturday, May 10.
8. Badlands Come Home (11-3-1-1, $15,356, p, 1:56 3/5. Megan Wilson, John Cummings Jr., 5/3): 5-year-old gelding's second win of the year came in 1:56 3/5, the co-fastest mile of the meet, on April 26 for owner Travis Betters of Batavia. ... Came back with a night's-fastest win in 1:57 on May 3. ... Drew the rail and is the 3-1 morning line favorite in the 10th race on Saturday, May 10.
9. Arm And A Leg (8-2-3-0, $15,751, p, 1:57. John Cummings Sr., Kevin Cummings, 5/3): After three out-of-the-money tries and two second-place finishes in fast miles, he wired the field from the 8-hole at 17-1 in 1:57. ... Wired the May 3 Open Pace in 1:58 3/5. ... “He’s great on the front, swells up, and won’t let anyone past him,” driver Kevin Cummings said. ... The 5-year-old gelding is owned by Mark J Jakubik of West Seneca and trainer John Cummings Sr. ... Wears No. 2 in the seventh race on Saturday, May 10.
10. Kickin Up Dirt (9-3-3-2, $16,850, p, 1:57 1/5. Mike Carrubba, Ray Fisher Jr., 5/3): 9-year-old gelding has been in the exacta six of his last eight races and passed the $15,000 purse-money mark with a victory in 1:58 on April 26. ... Has post 4 in the 10th race on Saturday, May 10.
Special mention:
Speed Pilot (9-2-0-1, $9959, t, 1:59.1. Lou Rapone Jr., Jim Morrill Jr., 5/7): Sat the pocket behind the swifty SJS Morgan for three quarters before exploding with a 29 1/5-second fourth quarter to post a victory in 1:59 1/5, the fastest trot of the season.
KB’s Ronnie (11-5-2-2, $13,116, p, 1:58 1/5. Gerry Sarama, Jim Morrill Jr., 5/7): Highly consistent 9-year-old gelding owned by Mike Torcello of Hamburg won his fifth race of the season on April 30 with a dominating, front-running victory over $5,000 claimers.
Chief Cochise (2-1-0-1, $3,700, t, 1:59 3/5. Steven Weaver, Jim Morrill Jr., 4/30): 5-year-old gelding won what was then the co-fastest trot of the year (1:59 3/5) on April 30 in his second start after arriving from Pompano Park, Fla.
Polichon Angus (11-4-1-4, $17,633, p, 1:57 1/5. Mike Carrubba, Kevin Cummings, 5/3): Made a huge four-wide move to the third quarter and flew home in a 28 1/5 last quarter to win in 1:57 1/5 for his fourth and fastest win of the year on April 19. ... Has the 2 hole against $15,000 claimers in the third race on Saturday, May 10.
Liebeck (9-2-0-1, $9,416, p, 1:57 1/5. Bob Gruber, Ray Fisher Jr., 5/3): One-time track record holder got the rail for the $9,000 Open Handicap and responded with a nice win in 1:57 1/5 on April 26 beating some highly ranked horses. ... The 7-year-old gelding is owned by trainer Gruber and Eric Ruppert of Depew. ... Gets post 7 in the seventh race on Saturday, May 10.
Fox Valley Shaman (7-2-0-1, $7,790, p, 1:56 3/5. Keith Kash Jr., Keith Kash Jr., 5/3): Classy 10-year-old gelding wired a field of $10,000 claimers in 1:56 3/5, the co-fastest mile of the year, after setting fractions of 28 4/5, 57 3/5 and 1:27 1/5. ... It was the 42nd career win for the son of Sportsmaster, winner of the 1991 Woodrow Wilson Pace at the Meadowlands. ... Leaves from post 8 against $10,000 claimers in the sixth race on Saturday, May 10.
Cade Callahan (8-2-1-1, $13,081, t, 1:59 3/5. Jim Graham, Mike Caprio, 5/3): 6-year-old gelding posted what was then fastest trotting mile of the meet with a career-best 1:59 3/5 mile (last quarter in 29 2/5) against Open III company on April 19. ... Will wear No. 2 in the second race on Saturday, May 10.
Elephants Can Fly (10-2-2-2, $16,115, p, 1:58 4/5. Bobbi Martin, Keith Kash Jr., 4/26): Son of Jenna's Beach Boy (Pacer of the Year in 1995 and 1996) has lost five straight since winning the $9,000 Open Pace in 1:58 4/5 over National Artchive and Michael Scores on March 22 for his second straight victory. ... Driver Jim Morrill Jr. said the 9-year-old gelding "is as tough as a boiled olive." ... Scratched lame May 3.
Kashability(3-2-1-0, $3,475, p, 159. Clint Galbraith, Clint Galbraith, 5/7): Hall of Famer’s 3-year-old colt won first two Raceway starts by a total of 17 ¼ lengths.
