Perfect Man won the $10,000 Open Trot in 2:02.3 over a track rated good at Buffalo Raceway Friday night.
The win was the second this season for Perfect Man, who has been racing predominately in Open company.
Perfect Man ($6.50) leaving from Post 2 and driven by reinsman Dave McNeight Jr., settled in fourth as last week’s Open winner Fifty Two Finn (John Cummings, Jr.) cut the early fractions, :30 to the quarter, and 1:00 to the half.
Second place finisher Ranger Gus (Dan Noble) hit the three-quarters with the lead in 1:31.1, with Perfect Man right behind. As the field hit the top of the stretch, it was obvious that Perfect Man was the stronger of the two horses, and he prevailed by one and three-quarter lengths at the wire. Longshot Mystic Soulmate (Jim McNeight) came in third.
The seven-year-old Malabar Man gelding out of the Nearly Perfect mare Perfectly Swift is trained by Dave McNeight Jr. for owner Michael A. Ouriel of Rochester, New York. The win was the 21st in 124 attempts lifetime for Perfect Man, whose lifetime earnings now stand at $201,010.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)