HAMBURG, N.Y. --- The quintet involved in Buffalo Raceway's $16,500 Open Pace sure did put on a show once again on Saturday afternoon (July 9) with Just Plain Loco ($2.80) proving to be the best this time around, topping just named '2022 Pacer Of The Meet' Stop Action by three quarter lengths in 1:55.4.

Photo by Bill Burke
Just Plain Loco gets last laugh in Saturday's Open Pace.

 

These same five horses battled to a blanket finish in last week's Open with a mere length separating them in the end. It was a ding-dong battle with Just Plain Loco (David McNeight III) getting the last laugh.

 

American Trademark (Keith Kash Jr.) set the tempo for the event, strolling through panels of :29.4, :59.0 and 1:28.0. Those soft splits almost ensured a mad dash to the finish line and it did materialize.

 

Just Plain Loco cruised through the passing lane and thanks to a :27.4 final quarter mile, was able to hold off the hard charging Stop Action (Kevin Cummings) while Yankee On The Move (Kyle Cummings) was third.

 

Owned by Paul Lang and trained by Jennifer Giuliani., it was the fourth victory in 18 starts on the season for the 6-year-old gelding Just Plain Loco (Well Said-Symphony In Motion). The triumph jacked his 2022 earnings to $54,816 and $344,345 in his lifetime.

 

In the sub-featured $14,400 pace, it was a three horse sprint to the finish line with McSpidey ($7.00) proving to be the best as he topped Stranger Things by a half length while the pace-setting and lukewarm favorite My Money Honey was third.

 

Photo by Bill Burke
McSpidey wins three-way battle in stretch in sub-featured pace.

My Money Honey, who was relegated to third off the gate, made his move to the top approaching the opening quarter mile. He managed to show the way, enjoying fractions of :28.3, :57.2 and 1:26.1, but things were about to get dicey.

 

With a panel to go, McSpidey (Kevin Cummings) rolled into contention on the outside while Stranger Things (Drew Monti) attacked on the inside, giving My Money Honey (Kyle Cummings) plenty to worry about.

 

The trio were on even terms midway down the lane but McSpidey was the strongest late and pulled out the victory.

 

Owned by William Emmons and conditioned by James Clouser Jr., it was the fifth win in 18 starts for the 8-year-old gelded McSpidey (McArdle-Tymal Trilogy). The victory improved his 2022 bankroll to $43,472 and $415,625 lifetime.

 

Drew Monti, Kevin Cummings and Kyle Cummings each posted doubles on the card while trainer Clouser Jr. had three and Lee Dahn and Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. collected two wins each.

 

The final week of the 2022 season starts on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. with a 10-race card. The New York Sire Stakes makes its final appearance of the season at Buffalo Raceway as the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers battle in the fifth race for a purse of $104,400. There's also a $15,000 Excelsior A race along with a $6,600 Excelsior B affair.

 

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