In a real oddity, only three drivers won all 13 races on Friday night at Buffalo Raceway
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The star of the show was last year’s leading national dash champion Dan Noble, who had six wins. Current meet leading driver Shawn Gray was next with five and John Cummings Jr. had three wins.
Gray won the featured $10,000 Open Trot with Ranger Gus in 1:59.4. The win was the fourth this season in 14 attempts for the five-year-old Dukes Ranger gelding.
Ranger Gus ($10.40) settled in third as all the fractions in the race were cut by eventual second place finisher Fifty Two Finn and John Cummings Jr. (:29.1, :59, 1:29.1). Gray pulled Ranger Gus just before the half and the gutsy gelding had to grind out a first over trip for the hard earned one length victory. Austins Jon Jon and Kevin Cummings came in third.
“He did it the hard way,” said Gray after the triumph. “All on his own.”
The $5,000 share of the winning purse put the Lisa Lederhouse trainee's seasonal bankroll at $28,190 and lifetime earnings at $98,239. Ranger Gus is owned by Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel, James Reuther, and Jerry Dedoszak.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)