Little Santamonica arrived for Buffalo Raceway's season opener on Wednesday night with some impressive credentials from Yonkers, Saratoga and Vernon Downs in 2013. The six-year-old mare started out 2014 great as well.

Despite being assigned the far outside post, the eight spot, it didn't make a difference as Little Santamonica ($3.60) easily disposed of the field in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace in 1:57.2.

Sitting third behind the pacing-setting High Speed Life (driven by Ray Fisher Jr.) and Red Star Fiona (Ron Beback Jr.), Little Santamonica and driver Billy Dobson went first over down the backstretch the final time and used a :29.3 final panel to win by two and three quarter lengths. High Speed Life held on for second and Red Star Fiona was third and never threatened in the lane.

Little Santamonica (Little Steven-Torianne N), trained by Jordan Hope and owned Kelly Hope, had bankrolled $106,221 in 2013 and raced in the $37,000 Fillies and Mares Open at Yonkers on December 13th in her last start, finishing a game third. The nearly month rest and outside post didn't bother her one bit on the cold and flurry-filled evening while winning in her first appearance of the season.

Racing resumes on Friday night at Buffalo Raceway when a 12-race card starts at 6:40 p.m. The $10,500 Open Trot will be the feature, scheduled for the seventh race.

(Buffalo Raceway)