Beechwood Wayne took a week off, but returned to action on Saturday night (March 15) and easily went gate-to-wire to take the featured $10,500 Open Pace at Buffalo Raceway in a seasonal-best 1:57.2 over the fast track.

Last seen on March 1, Beechwood Wayne ($5.20) has now won five of six starts in 2014. The lone blemish on his stellar record this season is a second-place finish where he lost by a mere length in that March 1 appearance.

But Beechwood Wayne returned fit and ready and his six competitors couldn't stop the sharp seven-year-old gelding. Driver Ron Beback Jr. sent him right to the top and put up splits of :29.4, 1:00.0 and 1:29.2. Zipnthruthehall (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) sat the pocket the entire trip and finished one and a half lengths back. Salazar (Jack Flanigen) showed plenty of closing speed in the lane and finished third.

Owned by Tessa Roland and Mark Jakubik, Beechwood Wayne has now pushed his seasonal earnings to $26,375 and lifetime bankroll to $186,504. Buffalo Raceway's leading trainer JD Perrin conditioned the winner.

The action returns to Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday evening when an 11-race program is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

(Buffalo Raceway)