by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- "I got a great trip," winning
driver Shawn McDonough said after guiding Labatt Hanover ($12.40) to a head
victory over Barn Winner in the $10,000 Class A-B Handicap Trot on Friday night
(May 17).
Drafting behind Barn Winner (Ray Fisher Jr.) until the top
of the stretch, Labatt Hanover was sent into the passing lane where he chugged
along until finally inching by in the shadow of the wire to collect the win.
Empire Earl N (Drew Monti) was third.
While Labatt Hanover was first to cross the finish line,
there were still some anxious moments for McDonough as he had to wait out an
inquiry for a possible pylon violation.
"It had me a little worried," McDonough said of
the inquiry. "I was close to clipping it but it worked out."
Labatt Hanover, giving Barn Winner a slight tussle for early
command, dropped into second place and enjoyed the pocket trip through splits
of :28.4, :58.0 and 1:28.3. It was a ploy that worked out well as Labatt
Hanover went a seasonal best 1:58.3 over the fast track.
"I was happy sitting second," McDonough said in
relinquishing the lead. "We were following a good horse in Barn Winner so
I knew we'd get a good trip."
Owned by Cynthia and Gary Saj and trained by McDonough, Labatt
Hanover (Muscle Hill-La Boheme) is a 6-year-old gelding that has now produced
$20,190 in earnings this season and $114,708 lifetime.
David McNeight III and Monti finished the evening with
driving doubles.
Racing will continue on Saturday evening with a 10-race card
set. There's a special 7:15 p.m. post time in order to accommodate the running
of the Preakness Stakes. Also, there's a $2,096 carryover in the Pick-5 that
begins in the second race.
For more information including the latest news, race
replays, results, entries, upcoming promotions and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
