Famous Dan may not be famous for winning Buffalo Raceway's co-featured $15,753 conditioned optional claiming trot on Friday afternoon, April 24, but he will long be remembered by trainer Maria Rice.

In the seventh race, Famous Dan ($4.52) scored a 1-1/2 victory in 1:59.4 to give Rice the 1,000th training win of her career.

After Munk finished fourth in the third race, Maria Rice had another opportunity to hit the thousand-win plateau. Famous Dan came through for her and did so in fine fashion as driver David McNeight III steered the seven-year-old Dover Dan gelding to the convincing win over Said N Done AS and Kevin Cummings.

The winner, who joined the Maria Rice stable last October, is owned by New York's Vogel And Wags Nags of Hamburg, Team Rice Racing of Lancaster and Dr. Michael Miller of Oneida.

Maria Rice earned her first training win in 2004 and posted a career-best 95 wins in 2019. Her stable has amassed nearly $7.5 million in earnings lifetime and sports a 0.310 UTRS.

In the other $15,753 trotting event on the card, Double Class ($2.20) showed he was all class with an impressive four-length score over Mr Cool Seaeyre N in 1:58 for driver Kevin Cummings, trainer Ron Beback Jr. and owner James Clouser Jr. of Bethel, New York.

The final leg of the April Reins Claiming Series was contested with each of the five divisions going for $17,123. Mister Marvalous ($3.10), driven by David McNeight III for trainer Taylor Fritz, was the quickest among the five winners with a 1:55.1 win off back-to-back claims in the series. 

The biggest surprise came from the Drew Monti-driven Snouze U Louze, who returned $13.96 with a 1:56.2 clocking while Dogfight and Kevin Cummings posted a $13.16 upset in 1:57.3. 

Caviart Val ($7.56), another Taylor Fritz trainee with Kevin Cummings driving for the 1:56.3 score, was the only winner claimed for $13,699. There was a total of five claims made in the last leg of the series on Friday.

The other series winner was Skyline Blue Chip ($5.76) in 1:57.2 with Michael Whelan in the sulky.

The top eight point-getters will return on May 1 for the $30,000 USD final.

Kevin Cummings and David McNeight III each had driving triples with Brett MacDonald getting two. David McNeight Jr. joined Taylor Fritz as trainers with a double on the 13-race card.

Racing will continue on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. with a 13-race card.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)