by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Daylight Rush ($11.80) finished with a
flourish on Saturday night (May 15) and convincingly took Buffalo
Raceway's $11,200 Class AA-Open Handicapped Pace in 1:53.4, the fastest
time of the 2021 meet.
With Santana Beach (Kevin Cummings) leading the way from the
start with splits of :28.4, :57.0 and 1:25.1 over the fast track, Daylight Rush
(David McNeight III) went first over down backstretch the final time and got on
even terms with the pace-setter turning for home.
Daylight Rush left little doubt in the lane as the
8-year-old gelding pulled away from Santana Beach, enjoying a length advantage
at the wire. Black Is Back (Shawn McDonough), the winner of last week's man
event, finished in third.
Owned and trained by Cassandra Johnson, it was the fourth
victory of the season for Daylight Rush (Art Colony-Pass With Caution). The win
moved his seasonal earnings to $16,054 and $279,460 lifetime.
In the co-featured $9,800 Class A-Open Handicapped Trot,
Mugshots Bro got up late and collared Mr Quaker by a length in
1:58.0. McDonough, who collected his 1,000th career win Friday night at
Vernon Downs, started his march to his next thousand by steering Mugshots Bro
to the popular $3.60 score.
Mr Quaker zoomed to the lead and tried to bottom out the
field of seven by putting up strong splits of :29.1, :57.3 and 1:27.1.
Approaching the final pole, Mr Quaker saw his big lead dwindle as Mugshots Bro
came a calling.
Nearing the finish line, Mugshots Bro was able to stride
past the stubborn Mr Quaker while Tartufo Lindy (Kevin Cummings) rallied for
third.
Co-owned by Herman Niedhammer and Herman Niedhammer Jr., the
9-year-old gelded Mugshots Bro (Jailhouse Jesse-Photo Emmy) collected his first
win of the campaign after two previous tries. The win jumped his seasonal
bankroll to $8,698 and $226,715 lifetime.
McDonough and Ray Fisher Jr. each doubled on the card.
Racing will resume on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with a
12-race card scheduled. There will be a guaranteed pool of $3,000 in the Pick 5
which begins in the second race.
For more information including the latest news, race
replays, entries and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
