Auditorial had a second and a pair of third-place finishes in the qualifying legs of the Michael Scores Knockout Claiming Series at Buffalo Raceway, but he saved his best for the $22,750 final on Saturday night (April 5) and registered the mild upset in 1:57.4.

The surprises then continued in the co-featured $10,500 Open Pace as Sand Savage ($16) posted a head win over the heavily favoured Running Book in a seasonal best of 1:55.1 over the fast track.

Drew Monti, a 19-year-old provisional driver at Buffalo Raceway, enjoyed the night as he guided both Auditorial and Sand Savage to the victories in the co-features.

In the Michael Scores finals, postponed from last week due to snow and poor track conditions, Auditorial ($13.60) got the perfect trip. He sat in second place from the start, following the pacesetting Enzo Seelster (John Cummings), who put up fractions of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:28. In the dash to the wire, Monti urged Auditorial through the inside passing lane and eventually wore down Enzo Seelster to score the half-length decision. Catman (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) took the show position, finishing a mere length behind.

Owned and trained by Daniel Mullet, Auditorial (Artsplace-Special Addition) is an eight-year-old gelding, who has now earned $17,589 this season and $164,760 lifetime. The win was his second in 2014 and 17th of his career.

In the Open, it was a two-horse breakaway as the pacesetting Running Book and pocket-sitting Sand Savage opened up an 11-length lead on the field by the three-quarter marker. In the stretch, the leg-weary Running Book drifted out badly while Monti kept Sand Savage on a straight course to the finish line and managed to win by a neck.

Sand Savage (Allamerican Native-Sheer Hose) is owned by Robert Salzman and is conditioned by Rose Russo. The win was the second in 11 starts for the seven-year-old horse this year. It upped his winnings to $16,332 in 2014 and $340,184 lifetime.

Racing will resume on Wednesday night at Buffalo Raceway with a 13-race card set to begin at 5 p.m. The $10,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace is the feature and is scheduled as the eighth race.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)