After getting caught in the 'Buffalo shuffle,' Major Marcus shook free from traffic woes in the stretch to pull out a neck win over Nothingbutmach in the featured $9,500 conditioned pace at Buffalo Raceway Saturday night (February 28).

In the semi-finals of the Niatross Knockout Claiming Series, Delightful Caitlin scored a $20.00 shocker over the heavily favoured One Chaser in the first division while It Was An Honor went gate-to-wire in the second leg.

Major Marcus ($8.90) was hung up in all kinds of traffic through three-quarters of a mile, but driver Drew Monti never gave up and was able to find some racing room in the stretch to nail the never-say-die Nothingbutmach (Shawn Gray) at the wire in a time of 1:57.2. Bakken (Ray Fisher Jr.) took the show position.

It was the first start of the season for Major Marcus and his initial appearance at Buffalo Raceway. The six-year-old gelding is owned by Clayton Faurot Jr. and is trained by Darren Taneyhill.

In the first division of the Niatross Knockout Series, Delightful Caitlin was able to track down the 1-9 favourite One Chaser in deep stretch to pace off with the three-quarter length victory. One Chaser (Kevin Cummings) set the fractions of 29.2, 1:00 and 1:30, but couldn't stop the late rally of Delightful Caitlin (Ron Beback Jr.), who stopped the timer in 1:59.1. Jettison (Gray) took the show money.

It was a different story in the second division as It Was An Honor (John Cummings Jr.) was able to hold off the late bid of Shaolin Master by a diminishing neck in 1:58.4, the quickest of the two legs. Dedalos (Monti) was just a length back in third.

The top four finishers in each division will return next Saturday for the $25,000 finals. The field will include semi-final winners Delightful Caitlin and It Was An Honor along with One Chaser, Jettison, Nora Lee, Shaolin Master, Dedalos and Goddesss Justin.

There will also be a $10,000 consolation race next Saturday for those not qualifying for the finals.

Racing will continue on Wednesday night at Buffalo Raceway with a 13-race program set to go to the post at 5 p.m.

(Buffalo Raceway)