Valentine Express ($7.40) equalled a Buffalo Raceway record with his 1:56 score in the $21,918 Open Trot on Friday afternoon, July 18.

Trained by Jerry Nugent Jr. and driven by Drew Monti, Valentine Express equalled the track record for gelded trotters five years old and up. He tied the record set by Fox Valley Veto and Billy Davis Jr. on July 20, 2018.

Besides equalling the track mark, Valentine Express easily beat his seasonal best of 1:57.2 that he recorded amid a three-race win streak in conditioned company on June 27.

Back competing at the Open level, Valentine Express played give and go off the starting gate with Big Baller Beane (Kevin Cummings) to the opening panel in a leisurely :29.4. But the action picked up after that as Valentine Express rolled through splits of :59 and 1:27.4. Down the lane, Valentine Express kept his head in the game and used a :28.1 final stanza to register the impressive a three-length victory over a first-up Makes Me Charlie (Mike Caprio), with last week's winner and race favourite Dealin With Dewey (Brett MacDonald) taking third.

Locally owned by the Rock 01 Stable, the six-year-old Chapter Seven-Cantala gelding has won six times in 15 starts this year. His 25th career triumph increased his lifetime earnings to $342,333.

In the $21,233 Open I-II Pace for the fillies and mares, the Taylor Fritz trainee Mary Kat ($7) and driver David McNeight III scored by three-quarters of a length victory over Firstofanera (Brett MacDonald) in 1:55.3. 

Mary Kat was able to set up shop on the front end and dictate the tempo with fractions of :28.2, :57.3 and 1:27. Turning for home, there was a wall of horses behind Mary Kat as Firstofanera, favourite Summer Slash (Ray Fisher Jr.) and Morgans All In (Kevin Cummings) were in position to take a run at the pacesetter. Their attempts all came up short though as Mary Kat was able to withstand the mounting pressure. Firstofanera took the place spot with Summer Slash rallying on the far outside for third-place honours.

Owned by Ohio-based Lucky Label Stables, Mary Kat collected her fourth win in her last five starts at Buffalo. Her lone loss during the recent stretch was a narrow head setback to Rightfully Mine on July 4. The six-year-old Bettors Delight-Nanny Withafanny mare has now won 10 times in 24 appearances in 2025, giving her 36 career wins and total earnings of $460,893.

The win was one of three on the 12-race card for Fritz, who completed her training triple with Ontario-owned trotters Thirdtimesthedream ($5.10) and Frenchy Hanover ($8.60), both driven by Shawn McDonough.

The Ontario-based father and son, driving and training team of Brett and Ron MacDonald doubled up with Colin Your Bluff ($4) and Allsummerlong As ($2.30).

The final two live harness racing programs for the 2025 season will take place this weekend with a 12-race program on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and the finale commencing at 12 noon on Sunday with nine races scheduled. Before Saturday's post, Buffalo Raceway will announce the various category winners for the 2025 meet.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)