Double Class Breaks Own Track Record at Buffalo Raceway – US Trotting News

Hamburg, NY — The ink was barely dry in the Buffalo Raceway record books, but Double Class broke his own record set a week earlier for 4-year-old geldings with a thrilling 1:56.1 victory over Power And Grace in the $14,000 Open I-II Handicap Trotting Stakes on Saturday night (July 20).

Power And Grace (Drew Monti) took the early lead, but a parked E Street took the lead at the quarter pole in 28.2 seconds. Power And Grace didn’t want to be part of the pocket and regained the lead by splits of 58 seconds and 1:26.4 seconds.

In what will likely go down as one of the best races of the 2024 season at Buffalo Raceway, Double Class (Jim Morrill Jr.) and Power And Grace broke away from the pack and went evenly matched down the stretch. Neither trotter was willing to give an inch, but Double Class had just enough of a final push as they neared the finish line to edge Power And Grace and set the new track record. R Royal Port (Kyle Swift) took show honors.

Owned and trained by James Clouser Jr., Double Class (Class Included-Double Ivory) has now earned $44,205 on the season and $82,705 on the year. This is his fifth win in 21 appearances.

In the $14,000 Open Pace, Blazing Light (Kyle Cummings) kept pace with Davey Day Trader before rallying in the “lightning lane” to take the win in 1:54.3.

Davey Day Trader (James McNeight Jr.) started the race with comfortable times of 29.1, 58.2 and 1:26.3. But a wall of horses began to bear down on Davey Day Trader. Blazing Light ($16.00) found the open road in the passing lane and passed Davey Day Trader with Scribblers (Drew Monti) taking third.

Buffalo Raceway handed out awards Saturday night, with Power And Grace named Trotter of the Meet. The 8-year-old mare (Holiday Road-Mark Of Honour) is owned by Hartel Maintenance Inc., Lormer McClure, Brett MacDonald and Reg Higgs. Trained by Ronald MacDonald, she has won six of 15 races at Buffalo, earning $58,820.

Egomania took home the Pacer Of The Meet title. After winning all three rounds of the Spring Up Series, David Russo’s trainee then won the finals. Owned by Anthony Barone, Egomania won six of 14 attempts and earned over $47,000 in winnings.

Samuel Smith won his second consecutive Trainer of the Meet award after recording 59 wins through Friday and nearly $500,000 in purses.

The final live racing schedule of 2024 will take place on Sunday with seven races scheduled for noon. Additionally, the simulcast center will also close after the action on Sunday afternoon.