Muskingum finds winning secret at Buffalo Raceway
June 21, 2024,
HAMBURG, New York — A softer test and an inside post was the perfect combination for Muskingum ($2.90), and the lone filly showed the gentlemen how it’s done in a $9,000 trotting race at Buffalo Race Course on Friday afternoon (June 21). She won by 1 1/2 lengths over Spirit of Success in a time of 1:57.4 on the fast track.
In the other $9,000 Class B trot, Pennant Seal Star slid through the pylons to beat All About The Chase by two lengths in a season-best time of 1:59.3, a win from the inside that paid out a whopping $43.60.
In the three-horse $9,000 pace, Better B. Swift ($5.10) really showed “quickness” when it mattered, overtaking pacesetter RD Skippy in the shadow of the finish line to win by a neck in 1:59.0.
Muskingum, who had previously competed in an open race in mid-May, had finished lower in the standings in the previous three races. Now demoted to Class B and pulling the pylon, Muskingum and driver Joseph Cindano Jr. made the most of the situation.
When the starting gate opened, Muskingum was ready to go and surged to the lead with times of 29.4, 59.4 and 1:28.3. Spirit of Success (Drew Monty) and Jumpin’ the Jailhouse (John Cummings Jr.) chased Muskingum for the home stretch but had little response and had to settle for a minor award.
Owned by Fox Racing and trained by Maggie Chindano, MuskingumVictory CaviarAbby Craig has now won four times in 15 tries this season, raising her 2024 earnings to $25,660 and her lifetime earnings to $246,829.
In the other Sidewinder main event, Pennant Seal Star (Kyle Swift) was in the pocket and patiently watched as SS Tyce Afline (Cindano Jr.) sailed from the seventh post.
SS Tides Afloat had many rivals targeting him as he turned down the long home straight, but it was Pennant Seal Star who stormed out of the lightning lane to take the upset win. All About The Chase (James McKnight Jr.) fought his way up to second, but SS Tides Afloat had to settle for third.
Pennant Seal Star (AmanofManyMission’s-Papi Levac), owned by Rose Campbell and trained by David Weston, won for the third time in 16 starts, boosting her season earnings to $19,961 and career earnings to $187,527.
The Class B Pace saw a three-way battle for early dominance with RD Skippy (Kevin Cummings) managing to come out on top, with times of :29.0, 1:00.1 and 1:29.0 recorded before the race was won or lost in the final quarter mile.
RD Skippy headed home with the advantage, but Better B Swift (Monty) got into the passing lane and eventually wore down the pacesetter. Silas Seelster finished third but was disqualified for interference, pushing Silverhill Blaze (Jim Morrill Jr.) into show position.
Better B. Swift, a 7-year-old owned by Keith Pinkowski and trained by Mihailo Zdziar Jr.Bettor’s Delight-Swift N Shout). His bankroll grew to $19,189 for the year and $181,163 for his career.
Racing will resume on Saturday evening (22 June) with a programme of 14 races scheduled to start at 6pm.
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