HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Auditorial had a second and a pair of
third place finishes in the qualifying legs of the Michael Scores Knockout
Claiming Series at Buffalo Raceway but he saved his best for the $22,750 finals
Saturday night (April 5) and registered the mild upset in 1:57.4.
The surprises then continued in the co-featured $10,500 Open
Pace as Sand Savage ($16.00) posted a head win over the heavily-favored Running
Book in a seasonal best of 1:55.1 over the fast track.
Drew Monti, a 19-year-old provisional driver at Buffalo
Raceway, enjoyed the night as he guided both Auditorial and Sand Savage to the
victories in the co-features.
In the Michael Scores finals, postponed from last week due
to snow and poor track conditions, Auditorial ($13.60) got the perfect trip. He
sat in second place from the start, following the pace-setting Enzo Seelster
(John Cummings) who put up fractions of 28.2, 58.3 and 1:28. In the dash to the
wire, Monti urged Auditorial through the inside passing lane and eventually
wore down Enzo Seelster to score the 1/2 length decision. Catman (Ronnie Wrenn
Jr.) took the show position, finishing a mere length behind.
Owned and trained by Daniel Mullet, Auditorial
(Artsplace-Special Addition) is an 8-year-old gelding who has now earned
$17,589 this season and $164,760 lifetime. It was his second win in 2014 and
17th of his career as well.
In the Open, it was a two-horse breakaway as the
pace-setting Running Book and pocket-sitting Sand Savage opened up an 11-length
lead on the field by the three-quarter marker. In the stretch, the leg-weary
Running Book drifted out badly while Monti kept Sand Savage on a straight
course to the finish line and managed to win by a neck.
Sand Savage (Allamerican Native-Sheer Hose) is owned by
Robert Salzman and is conditioned by Rose Russo. It was the second win in 11
starts for the 7-year-old horse this year. It upped his winnings to $16,332 in
2014 and $340,184 lifetime.
Racing will resume on Wednesday night at Buffalo Raceway
with a 13-race card set to begin at 5 p.m. The $10,500 Fillies and Mares Open
Pace is the feature and is scheduled as the eighth race.
For more information including upcoming schedule,
promotions, replays, results and news, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
