by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Kahoku ($7.60) and driver Drew Monti
teamed up for the first time in their respectively careers and after watching
the results of the $10,000 Class A trot at Buffalo Raceway on Friday night (May
24), it might be a combination that stays together for awhile.
Blasting off the gate from the inside, Kahoku led all the
way and beat the favored Empire Earl N by 3-1/4 lengths in a seasonal best
1:58.1. It was the third consecutive win for Kahoku.
"I've watched this horse race probably a hundred times
but never drove him," Monti said after the victory.
As far as his strategy getting behind Kahoku the first time,
Monti stated, "He's a little hot tempered so I figured if I could keep him
calm starting from the rail and going through the first turn, we'd be
good."
And good they were.
Leaving from the inside, Kahoku, who now has 219 career
starts with 46 victories, had no issues in gaining the lead off the starting
gate and putting up splits of :29.0, :59.1 and 1:28.4. Down the stretch, Monti
enjoyed the spring weather as Kahoku romped to the easy decision. Empire Earl N
(Ray Fisher Jr.) was second and Well Connected Kid (David McNeight III) took
third place.
"Once we got midway down the backstretch going to the
three-quarters, I knew we had it,' Monti said. "He has been getting better
the past few weeks."
The 11-year-old gelded Kahoku (S J's Caviar-Tags Gal) is
owned by Colleen Girdlestone and trained by Patrick Galbraith. It was his
fourth win in 12 starts this season and moved his earnings to $18,655 in 2019
and $310,452 lifetime.
Billy Davis Jr. and Monti completed the card with a pair of
victories.
Racing will continue on Saturday night at 6 p.m. with a
13-race program set.
For more information including the latest news, race
replays, results, entries, upcoming promotions and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
