Favourite Melanion N ($3.30) used a great draw and also got some racing luck on Saturday afternoon, June 7 to claim the victory in Buffalo Raceway's $21,918 Open Pace.

Davey Day Trader (David McNeight III) was able to take the lead in the early stages, but Melanion N, from the inside post in the field of eight, wanted nothing to do with the pocket and zoomed right back to the lead for driver Drew Monti. Melanion N set fractions of :28, :57 and 1:25.1 with the first-over All Bets On Tex (Brett MacDonald) pulling within a half-length of the leader rounding the final turn. But All Bets On Tex and the pocket-sitting Davey Day Trader locked wheels, which scattered the field, allowing Melanion N to reach the finish line first in a seasonal best of 1:53.3 over the fast track. Egomania (Kyle Cummings) closed within a half-length at the finish line in second while Stranger Things (Kevin Cummings) got the show spot four lengths behind.

Trained by Maria Rice and owned by Dr. Michael Miller of Oneida, New York, Melanion N earned his third victory in 14 tries this season. A career winner of 14 races, the eight-year-old Bettors Delight-Georgias Jury gelding pushed his bankroll over the $200,000 mark.

Racing will resume on Wednesday, June 11 at 2:30 p.m., with a 14-race program. The New York Sire Stakes will return and a field of four sophomore filly pacers will square off for a $113,400 USD purse in the seventh race. There are also three $20,000 USD Excelsior events carded.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)