Southwind Prairie and Redneck Reindeer shared the spotlight on Friday night at Buffalo Raceway, winning the co-featured Open events
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In the $9,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace, Southwind Prairie, a six-year-old Bettors Delight offspring out of the Artsplace mare Prettytrickynikki, won in 2:00.2, for her first win of the 2010 campaign, for owner Karl Schoeffel.
Capably driven by Jack Flanigen, Southwind Prairie ($11.00), was shuffled back to fifth, and stuck on the rail in the field of eight, as the early pacesetter Dwights Charlene (Jim McNeight) cut the early fractions, :30.2, 1:00.2, and 1:30.1. As the field hit the top of the stretch, Southwind Prairie snuck to the inside passing lane, and with a :29.4 last quarter-mile, just nipped the favourite in the race, Pembroke Primo (Kevin Cummings) by a head. Newberry Winner (Jamie Dunlap) came in third.
“She just exploded in the passing lane,” said Flanigen.
Trained by Steve Schoeffel, the $4,500 share of the winning purse put Southwind Prairie’s season bankroll at $7,770, and $217,813 lifetime.
In Friday’s $9,000 Open Trot, Redneck Reindeer ($13.60) went wire-to-wire in 2:01.3, to register his fifth win of the year for owner Betty Tauber.
It was a jump up in class for the Giant Hit offspring, who was cleverly driven by reinsman Ken Holliday. Australian Stock (Kevin Cummings) finished second, while Jack Sparrow (Jim McNeight) came in the show spot.
Trained by Sherri Holliday, the $4,500 share of the winning purse put Redneck Reindeer’s season bankroll at $25,725, and $241,809 lifetime.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)