After posting 13 victories and putting over $82,000 in the bank last year, Kahoku was in search of his first win of the 2017 campaign after 10 unsuccessful tries.

The dry spell ended on Friday night as Kahoku took the featured $10,000 Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway by turning back Empire Earl N by two and a half lengths in 1:57.

It was a three-way war to the opening quarter as Empire Earl N, Noble Legend and Kahoku all had a taste of the lead through the first panel of 28.1.

Things finally settled down on the front end as Kahoku (Ron Beback Jr.) gained the lead and stepped off fractions of :57.2 and 1:27.2. But it was going to get interesting again as Kahoku locked horns with the first over Empire Earl N (Larry Stalbaum) around the final turn.

Midway down the stretch, Kahoku ($4.30) managed to slowly pull away from the stubborn Empire Earl N and stopped the beam in 1:57, the quickest trotting time of the season. Noble Legend (John Cummings Jr.) finished in third.

With the victory, the nine-year-old gelded Kahoku (SJs Caviar-Tags Goal) moved his seasonal earnings to $16,914 and $226,391 lifetime. He is owned by Colleen Girdlestone and trained by Mark Laidlaw.

In addition to the Open Trot driver Ron Beback Jr. and trainer Mark Laidlaw paired to win two additional races.

Racing will continue on Saturday night at 6 p.m. with a 13-race program scheduled. A two-day carryover of $2,217 awaits in the Pick 5 that starts in Race 2.

(Buffalo Raceway)