Fans witnessed a zany three-race stretch at Buffalo Raceway Friday night as three long shots found their way to the winner's circle.
The fourth through sixth races were definitely as wild as could be with the average win mutuel being $105.15.
Wrangler Rockstar (John Cummings, Jr.) started out the long shot parade in the fourth race with a stunning $63.00 victory to kick off the first half of the mid daily double.
Diditagain Hanover wasn't going to be outdone as Ron Beback, Jr. steered the seven-year-old gelding to a $240.50 shocker in the back half of the double. It was the largest win price of the season at Buffalo Raceway and it also prompted a unique daily double payoff of 6-all for $79.50 on a $2 wager.
The victory by Diditagain Hanover was also the opening leg of the Pick-4 which returned $32.37 on the winning combination of 8-5-2-3 with just 3-of-4 needed for 50 cents.
Sunday Star (Shawn Gray) then posted a $21.00 decision in the sixth race before things settled down.
The Niatross Knockout Claiming 'B' Series continues Saturday night with the quarter-finals. The top four finishers in each of the four $6,000 divisions will move on to the semi-finals on Saturday, April 18. All starters can be claimed for $6,000, mares for $7,200 this week.
Full Circle Spirit is the 3-1 morning line favourite in the opener of the Series, scheduled for the ninth race, as Drew Monti takes hold of the reins. The 10-year-old gelding posted a 1:57.4 victory but could be tested by the pacesetting mare Ms Luck who drew the pylons.
Dedalos, the winner of the Niatross 'A' Series back on March 7, gets the nod in the next division. Ready to go from the six post, Buffalo Raceway's leading driver Kevin Cummings will be aboard the 3-1 favourite Dedalos who notched a winning mark of 1:57.3 last week.
The toughest leg could be the third, scheduled as the 12th, where Nora Lee (Monti) and K C Colt (Jimmy Whittemore) will tangle. Both are coming off victories in their preliminary round last week. They aren't the favourites, however, as rail-sitting Wainui Tabman N (Cummings Jr.) gets the slight early 3-1 edge.
Secluded Island enters on a three-race win streak and looks to expand on that after drawing the rail in the 13th race. Secluded Island had the fastest time last week with a 1:57.1 mark and will have Beback Jr. in the bike.
The $10,500 Open Pace will open the 6:35 p.m. card with Western Alumni the 2-1 morning line pick. Scoring from the two post, Western Alumni will have Jim McNeight driving. His main competition should come from Cobble Beach who made his seasonal debut at Buffalo Raceway last week a winning one with a 1:55.2 mile.
(Buffalo Raceway)