An inside starting position, a new front-running style and a sloppy racetrack. Salazar faced those new challenges in the $10,500 Open Pace at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (June 28) and passed with flying colours.

After starting his last seven races from the five post or out and over a fast tracks, Salazar got the rail, a sloppy track and tossed out his late-closing style.

Battling Western Alumni to the quarter marker in :29.4, the pacesetting Salazar (Ron Beback Jr.) was the one to catch down the stretch. Western Alumni, who sat the pocket the entire mile, failed to produce a late charge thanks to the :28.3 last panel put up by Salazar ($4.90). The winning time was 1:57.3. Western Alumni finished three lengths behind in second while Best Ears (Jack Flanigen) took the show spot.

Owned by Lisa Denison and trained by Lisa Lederhouse, the eight-year-old Salazar (McArdle-January Spur) now has won four times in 22 starts in 2014, earning $45,872 and upping his career total to $264,456.

Racing continues on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. at Buffalo Raceway with a 13-race program scheduled. The New York Sire Stakes will be in town with the three-year-old colt and gelding trotters taking the spotlight.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)