Flag Party gave trainer Jennina Shaw a nail-biting first career win on Saturday, March 14 as the gelding won a three-way photo in the $21,233 Open Handicap Pace at Buffalo Raceway.

Flag Party, driven by Joe Chindano Jr., started fourth as Lanjo Lee (Kyle Cummings) took the front with a give-and-go to the quarter in :29.4. Flag Party then moved first-up turning towards the stands and pressed forward through middle splits of :59.2 and 1:28, reaching even terms with Lanjo Lee as they raced to the third station. They locked horns into the lane, and Bettor Than Spring (Brett MacDonald) joined them at the pylons. All three had their chances, and it took a photo to separate them with Flag Party nudging ahead late while Bettor Than Spring and Lanjo Lee had to settle for second- and third-place finishes, respectively.

Owned by driver Chindano Jr., Jeff Savidge, Michael DeSaye and Richard DiMaio, Flag Party is now one-for-five this season. The five-year-old son of Stag Party-Sassafras Girl has won 15 times in 56 career outings and earned $151,806. He paid $9.84 to win.

Shaw's first win came in start number 16 after five previous place finishes. The trainer debuted with Flag Party on Feb. 14, finishing second, and has now accrued a record of 1-5-1 with $33,937 in earnings.

Dougadougadew waited contently as Crazy Ritz did the heavy work on the front end in the $21,233 Open Trot, then pounced on his opportunity in the stretch to post the 1-3/4 length victory.

In the drive to the opening panel, Dougadougadew (Kyle Cummings) played some hard ball with Crazy Ritz (James McNeight Jr.) before eventually relinquishing the lead. After reaching the top, Crazy Ritz put up fractions of :29.1, :59.3 and 1:29.1. But turning for home, those splits proved to be too much as Dougadougadew easily collared Crazy Ritz and confidently strutted off to the victory in 1:59. Double Class (Kevin Cummings) took the show position.

The seven-year-old Deweycheatumnhowe-Fashionablefilly gelding Dougadougadew was victorious for the first time in three attempts in 2026. The score vaulted his totals to 22 wins and $245,710 in lifetime earnings in 89 starts. He is owned by Doug and Tyra Ackley and conditioned by Tammy Cummings. The win price was $11.90.

Brett MacDonald and Kyle Cummings topped the drivers' statistics with three victories apiece with David McNeight III, Kevin Cummings and Greg Merton both getting two. Tammy Cummings and Sheena Cohen each had a pair of training wins on the 14-race card.

Buffalo Raceway has announced schedule changes for the rest of the 2026 meet. The track has now added live racing on Friday, March 20 and Friday, March 27 with the normal post of 2:30 p.m. still in effect. Originally, Friday afternoon racing was to begin on April 3. The final race day of the season will now be on Saturday, July 18 with Sunday, July 19 taken off the calendar.

Also, the live racing post time at Buffalo Raceway on May 2, Kentucky Derby Day, has been moved from its usual time of 2:30 p.m. to noon.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)