Buffalo Raceway's 2024 driving champion Kevin Cummings wasted no time in getting the jump on the field in 2025 as he registered six victories on the opening card on Saturday, March 1, including all three of the afternoon's co-featured events.
It didn't take long for Cummings to get started as he took the first race aboard Howmacs Hank ($13.20) and then added five more along the way. He took all three featured events including the co-featured $17,391 pacing events with Stranger Things ($8.30) and Runrunjimmydunn N ($3.10) and notched the decision in the $17,391 trot race aboard Communion Money ($8.80). Cummings was also victorious with Imwoncaptainwiser ($15.80) and McNatural L ($3.60).
Sam Smith, who won the 2024 training title, got off to a great start as he sent three to the winner's circle.
There was nothing 'strange' about the way Stranger Things (pictured above) blew past the field in Buffalo Raceway's featured $17,391 pace.
Sitting a patient fifth heading down the backstretch the final time, Stranger Things effortlessly blasted his way to the top and easily toppled the stunned pacesetting Oaxacan Dream N (David McNeight III) by 2-1/2 lengths in a snappy 1:58.4 over the 'good' track. My Mind Is Madeup (James McNeight Jr.) took the third place spot.
Oaxacan Dream N cut the early fractions of :30.2 and 1:01.2. But Strangers Things couldn't wait any longer as he tipped first-over and easily drew away at the three-quarter pole in 1:30.2. If any closers had a thought on catching Stranger Things in the stretch, he quickly erased those thoughts by putting up a sizzling :28.1 final panel.
The win was the second in six tries in 2025 for the nine-year-old Stranger Things (Western Terror-Southwind Prairie), who is trained by Angelo Nappo and co-owned by Kathy Schoeffel and James Reuther. The win moved his seasonal earnings total to $21,278 and lifetime sum to $412,903.
Cummings' most comfortable victory on the day was aboard Runrunjimmydunn N as he wired the field in 1:58.2. The pacer romped to the three-length score over Silverhill Blaze (Drew Monti) with Blazing Light (Kyle Cummings) rolling in for third.
Runrunjimmydunn N had no issues in establishing the top and used fractions of :30.3, 1:01.1 and 1:30 through three-quarters. A :28.2 final quarter sealed the deal for Runrunjimmydunn N.
The victory was the first of the year in six starts for the Smith-trained Runrunjimmydunn N (American Ideal-Delightful Paula), who is owned by the Three Ring Circus Stable. The 12-year-old gelding has produced $16,609 in earnings this year and $667,830 lifetime.
Communion Money went three-wide turning for home and was able to pull out a length win over Grinder (McNeight Jr.) in 2:01.3 in the main trotting event.
The tempo-setting Sonnys Moni had things under control through three-quarters in 1:31.1, but things started falling apart after that. Cummings was able to shake Communion Money three-wide turning for home and the mare confidently trotted home for the victory. Grinder held on for second with Crazy Fool (Kyle Cummings) took third.
A four-year-old mare owned and trained by Ann Yurenka, Communion Money (Crazy Wow-Paya La Renta) earned her second win in five starts this year. The score increased her earnings to $16,837 on the year and $153,036 in her career.
Racing will continue on Wednesday afternoon starting at 2:30 p.m.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)