Dismissed by the bettors at 11-1, Boardmaster, a 5-year old Blissfull Hall chestnut gelding out of the On The Road Again mare La Rousse Fantasia, won the $9,000 Open Handicap Pace in a seasons best 1:56.1, for owner Betty Tauber, at Buffalo Raceway Saturday night.
Capably driven by Ken Holliday, Boardmaster ($25) leaving from post two in the field of six, settled in fourth as eventual third-place finisher Oh Gee Whiz (Matt Kakaley) cut the early fractions, :29, and :59 to the half. Holliday pulled Boardmaster to outside right before the half-mile pole and was first-over going down the backstretch. With a burst of speed, Boardmaster hit the three-quarter pole with the lead in 1:28.
Arm And A Leg (Kevin Cummings) tried chasing the leader in the stretch, but fell two lengths short at the wire to finish second. It was the second win of the year in nine attempts for Boardmaster, and the $4,500 share of the winning purse put his 2009 bankroll at $14,525 and $90,440 lifetime. Driver Kakaley was the hot reinsman steering home four winners. They were Up Front Northern ($6.50), Mr Trentonian ($3.90), The Fonz ($5), and Tribuck ($7.70). (Buffalo)
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