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After a pair of heart breaking half-length setbacks the past two weeks, Mr Ham Sandwich avoided disappointment again by rolling to a solid three-quarter-length victory over Black Is Back in the $10,600 Class AA-Open Handicapped Pace at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (May 1). Mr Ham Sandwich covered the mile in 1:54 over the fast track, the fastest time of the meet.
Sitting fourth after the half-mile station, driver David McNeight III put Mr Ham Sandwich on the rim and took command from pacesetting Thor De Vie with a quarter to go. Powerfully striding to a two-length margin heading for home, Mr Ham Sandwich had no issues in turning back Black Is Back while Thor De Vie finished in third.
There was no breather for Stratosphere in Buffalo Raceway s $10,500 Class AA-Open Handicapped Pace on Saturday night (April 24), but he was more than up to the persistent challenges in taking a half-length win over Mr Ham Sandwich in 1:54.1, the fastest mile of the 2021 meet.
After collecting the lead just before the opening panel, Stratosphere (Drew Monti) was under constant siege during the entire tour around the half-mile oval.
First it was Santana Beach who parked alongside Stratosphere for the first half. After Santana Beach threw in the towel, Mr Ham Sandwich and Iluvtomakemoney then took their turns at Stratosphere.
While giving it their best shots, Stratosphere was more than up for the challenge and gamely crossed the finish line ahead of Mr Ham Sandwich and Iluvtomakemoney.
The perennial “king” of the driving colony at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, George Napolitano Jr., is serving early notice that he will be tough to dethrone in 2021, posting his second-straight card of posting six victories on Sunday (March 14).
The double sextet now gives George a 38-31 advantage over his brother Anthony, and quick math shows the pair has won 41 percent of all races held at the mountain track during the first 12 days of the meet.
Two from George’s six-bagger came for trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera, who now has nine visits to the Pocono winner s circle this year one more than Jennifer Bongiorno and Dan Maier. The pair’s most impressive hookup of the night was with the Art Major mare Crazy Cute, who had 80 days since her last race, but still managed to set the pace and come home a final half in :55.2 to win in 1:53.4. The win for the partnership of Garcia-Herrera and Barbara Arnstine was the fastest clocking of the card.
Blue Bell Bonnie left the field feeling blue in Buffalo Raceway s featured $8,800 Class A Pace for the filly and mares on Wednesday night (March 10) by taking a one-and-a-quarter length victory over Greenhilldebatable in a seasonal best of 1:57.2.
It was a great night for the driver Jim Morrill Jr., trainer Gerry Sarama and owner Mike Torcello as they combined for four winners on the evening, including the win by Blue Bell Bonnie. Morrill Jr. finished with five victories on the program.
At the start, Blue Bell Bonnie had to tussle with Greenhilldebatable on who was going to be the temptress of the timer. Blue Bell Bonnie ended up winning that distinction and set fractions of :29.1, :59 and 1:28 over the fast track.