Buffalo Raceway re-opened its doors after a six-month hiatus Friday night (Jan. 15) and Lutetium showed he hasn't lost his knack in finding his way around the track during that time.
A 10-time winner in 2015, Lutetium started off the new campaign in fine style, easily disposing of his seven rivals in the $9,000 featured trot in 2:02.1.
Assigned the outside eight post on the sloppy track, Buffalo Raceway's two-time defending driving champion Kevin Cummings immediately took off with Lutetium from the starting gate, grabbing control of the lead by the time they reached the backstretch.
The pair then enjoyed the front-running tour over the half-mile oval located at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg, New York and used splits of :30, 1:00.2, 1:31.1 in posting a 2:02.1 time. Lutetium ($3.60) won by a comfortable one and three-quarter lengths over Strong Hope (Jack Flanigen), who won the scrum for runner-up honours, while Northern Bullet (Ray Fisher Jr.) finished third.
Lutetium bankrolled $80,621 in 2015 and was in the money 25 times in 32 races last season. Friday's race was his first appearance of the year and with the $4,500 winner's share of the purse, moved Lutetium's career earnings to $361,417. The nine-year-old gelding (Credit Winner-Luby) is owned by Colleen Girdlestone and trained by Mark Laidlaw.
Cummings finished with a driving triple while Drew Monti, Truman Gale and Mike Baumeister all scored twice.
Courtney Ohol was the lone trainer with a double as she conditioned Garys Party ($21.40) and Mr Casual ($19.20) to upset victories.
Buffalo Raceway Director of Operations Jon Cramer said, "It was a great opening night in the clubhouse, on track and off track. Our handle was over $238,000. Overall, things went very well."
Racing resumes on Saturday evening with a 12-race card scheduled for 6 p.m.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)