by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

HAMBURG, N.Y. ---Big rallies resulted in big prices in the featured trotting events at Buffalo Raceway on Friday afternoon (May 19).

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 1:59.0 over the fast track. Earlier in the program, Lady Ruth ($38.20) set the long shot tone by scoring a nose win over J-s Swanman to take the $11,500 Trot.

Photo by Bill Burke
Fireinsidemyveins pulls upset In Open 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 their 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 4-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 and conditioned by James Clouser Jr., the 4-year-old Fireinsidemyveins (Muscle Mass-Prize Angie) found the winner's circle for the first time in seven attempts this season. His earnings for 2023 increased to $15,610 and $102,720 in his career.

Photo by Bill Burke
Lady Ruth (#3) wins wild dash to the wire.

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 favored Cr Blazin Beauty stomped out the fractions with times of :29.0, :59.4 and 1:30.1. But a wall of sidewinders 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, it was the fifth victory in 16 outings for the 4-year-old mare Lady Ruth (Uncle Peter-Sun Sentinel). The triumph put Lady Ruth's bankroll to $36,250 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 slated. There's a $669 carryover in the Pick 5 which starts in the second race.

For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, entries, results and race replays, go to www.buffaloraceway.com