After four consecutive starts from the inside post in Buffalo Raceway's $15,500 Open Trot with no victories, J S Hopscotch ($11.40) got another kick at the can from the pylons and this time he was finally successful with a head decision over Batting Stats in 1:58 over the fast track on Friday afternoon (June 2).

Despite a pair of second-place finishes in his past four outings from the inside, J S Hopscotch (Kyle Cummings) just hasn't been able to get over the hump. But this time, a perfect ground-saving journey and a slot in the passing lane allowed J S Hopscotch to register the win.

It was an action-packed event with the eventual tempo-setting Batting Stats having a three-wide battle with Castyourcrown and Deswanslittleorie for early supremacy. The opening quarter went in a robust :28.1 and Batting Stats (Jim Morrill Jr.) was still in control with middle fractions of :58.1 and 1:28. But things were about to get exciting and wild down the long homestretch.

Batting Stats showed the way down the lane but J S Hopscotch and Castyourcrown (David McNeight III) made the moves on the inside while Deswanslittlelorie (Joseph Chindano Jr.) and Kandy Sweet (Keith Kash Jr.) were making solid bids on the outside. When the dust settled and the photo posted, J S Hopscotch was a head in front with Batting Stats finishing in second and Castyourcrown third. The top five finishers were within 1-1/4 lengths at the finish line.

Owned by Rags To Riches of PA LLC, five-year-old J S Hopscotch (Mr Web Page-Better Than Dreams) is trained by Tammy Cummings. He earned his fifth victory in 19 tries on the campaign and jacked his bankroll to $43,277 on the season and $136,517 lifetime.

Mugshots Bro got his 'mugshot' taken in the winner's circle after registering the victory in a $11,500 trot in a seasonal best of 1:58.3.

Driven by Chindano Jr., Mugshots Bro ($3.80) sat patiently in third place as he watched Bacardi put up times of :29.1 and :59.3 through the opening half. Moving first-over approaching the three-quarters, Mugshots Bro zoomed around Bacardi (Kevin Cummings) around the final turn and easily trotted away from Bacardi by 2-1/4 lengths. Dynamic Edge (Shawn McDonough) took the third-place position.

Co-owned by Herman Niedhammer and Herman Niedhammer Jr., 11-year-old Mugshots Bro (Jailhouse Jesse-Photo Emmy) earned his second win in eight starts this year. The victory jumped his 2023 earnings to $17,505 and career bankroll to $347,735.

Kevin Cummings and Chindano Jr. finished the afternoon with driving triples.

Racing will resume on Saturday evening beginning at 6 p.m. with a 13-race program. There is a $700 carryover in the Pick 5, which begins in the second race.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)