When Cobble Beach has been scoring victories at Buffalo Raceway the past three weeks, it has been in gate-to-wire fashion. But in the $10,000 Open Pace on Saturday night (Feb. 13), Cobble Beach ($9.90) had to go last to first route to score a thrilling upset win over Youwillwishyouhad in 2:00.3 over the 'good' track.

 

Being assigned the seven post, Cobble Beach (David McNeight III) settled back and watched as Lucky Nadotremblay (Shawn McDonough) set the fractions of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:31.1. Going by the half-mile, Cobble Beach managed to grab the cover of the first over favourite, Southwind Terror, and was able to eventually get into perfect striking position at the top of the stretch. Tipping three-wide, Cobble Beach tracked down the tiring Lucky Nadotremblay and held off Youwillwishyouhad (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) by a neck. China Dream (Jack Flanigen) got up for third with a late rally through the passing lane.

Owned by Leonard Segall and trained by James Clouser Jr., Cobble Beach earned his third win in four tries in 2016. The Open win pushed the six-year-old Artiscape gelding's seasonal earnings to $15,004 and lifetime earnings over $200,000.

 

In the quarter-finals of the Niatross Knockout Claiming Series, Aberarder Smitty posted the fastest winning time in the four divisions with a 2:00 mile. Others scoring victories were Beechwood Wayne (2:01.4), Delightful Caitlin (2:03.4) and First Of Fun (2:01.1). The top four finishers in each leg will return for the semi-finals on Saturday night.

 

Todd Cummings finished the night with three victories in the sulky while Mike Baumeister and David McNeight III each doubled.

 

Clouser Jr. and Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. each had two training victories.

 

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)