by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Buffalo Raceway is wasting no time in
presenting its feature race of the night as the filly and mare pacers battle in
the Open II scheduled for the first event on the 11-race card that will start
the 2016 campaign. Post time Wednesday night (Jan. 13) is set for 5 p.m.
Ding has been established as the early-morning line favorite
at 3-1 with Ron Beback Jr. in the sulky. Trained by James Clouser Jr. and owned
by Leonard Seagall, Ding has finished first and second in her most recent
starts at this level at Batavia Downs and drew the six post.
Heavenly Place has been in the money in all of her last six
starts and had 13 victories in 2015, earning over $62,000. She'll draw plenty
of attention from the wagerers and will get the services of David McNeight III
in the bike.
The major danger could come from the front-running
Memumsnotnice who was assigned the eight post. The John Mungillo-trained
Memumsnotnice has earned over $309,000 in her career including over $54,000
last season. Drew Monti gets the call on the 7-year-old mare, tabbed at 5-1 in
the morning line.
Buffalo Raceway's new Pick-5 wager, which carries a 50-cent
minimum, begins in the fifth race. If the pot is not hit, it will carryover to
the next racing night.
Opening week will continue on Friday night with a new post
time of 5 p.m. while Saturday night's action will now begin at 6 p.m.
