George P Hanover made every step a winning one Saturday night (March 1) and registered a head victory over Kamanche Sun in the $28,250 Niatross Knockout Claiming Series Pace final at Buffalo Raceway.
Scoring from the three post, George P Hanover (David McNeight III) set the pace over the fast track with fractions of :28.3, :57.3 and 1:27.1 and had Kamanche Sun (Aaron Byron) breathing down his neck the entire mile. In deep stretch, he had just enough left in the tank to hold off the stubborn Kamanche Sun and third-place finisher Major Glass (Kevin Cummings), the post time favourite.
Owned and trained by Earl Kirbis Jr., the six-year-old gelded George P Hanover has now won three starts in six appearances in 2014 and improved his seasonal bankroll to $21,362 and lifetime earnings to $112,396.
In the $10,000 Niatross Knockout Claiming Series Pace consolation race, Catalina Kid scored the $26.20 upset victory in 1:59 with Jack Flanigen in the sulky. Bobs Alibi (Billy Dobson) finished second while Martin Hanover (Rock Vinci) took the show dough.
Dont Say Goodby posted the fastest mile of the 2014 season at Buffalo Raceway with a 1:55.1 in registering a length win over Beechwood Wayne in the co-featured $10,500 Open Pace.
Starting from the inside, Dont Say Goodby (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) scooted immediately to the front and put up a scorching half-mile time of :56.3. In the stretch, Dont Say Goodby ($4.40) had built a comfortable two length lead and held off the challenge of Beechwood Wayne (Ron Beback Jr.) and B Lo Zero (Ray Fisher Jr.).
The victory was the third in five starts this year for Dont Say Goodby, who is owned by Derek Menchhofer and trained by Charles Stewart. The win increased his season winnings to $15,750 and lifetime earnings to $182,239.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)