Majestic Kat made it a 'purrfect' 3-for-3 at Buffalo Raceway on Friday as she splashed and dashed her way to the victory in the $13,000 Open Trot in 1:57.4 over the sloppy track.
After making a two week visit to Flamboro Downs where she registered a win and third place, Majestic Kat returned to the Western New York circuit where she was undefeated in two starts.
Driver Billy Davis, Jr. and Majestic Kat were involved in a skirmish with Wheels A Turning and Southern Palms to take command to the opening quarter pole and were successful in getting there.
"It was obvious we wanted the lead," Davis, Jr. said of his early going strategy. "She (Majestic Kat) is pretty handy racing from anywhere but she does like the front end." Once hitting the home stretch in 1:28.4, Davis, Jr. said, "I wasn't really worried."
Wheels A Turning (Jim Morrill, Jr.) finished in second a length behind while Southern Palms (Drew Monti) took third.
Trained by Maria Rice and co-owned by Jack Rice, Vogel & Wags Nags Stable and Pine Hill Racing LTD, it was the fifth win in 11 starts for Majestic Kat (Majestic Son-Order By Matilda). The five-year-old mare has now put $35,416 in the bank this season and $197,007 in her career.
In the $10,000 Class A-B Handicap Trot, Lougazi came from nowhere and snatched a head victory over Keystone Apache in 1:59.
Sitting fifth and 5-1/4 lengths from the lead at the top of the stretch, Ray Fisher, Jr. launched a mad charge with Lougazi in the stretch and posted the $16.40 upset win. Keystone Apache (Davis, Jr.) took the tough luck second place finish with Empire Earl N (Jim Morrill, Jr.) taking third, just a neck behind the winner.
Owned by Mary Warriner and trained by Ryan Swift, it was the second consecutive triumph for Lougazi (Lous Legacy-Winning Blade). The five-year-old gelding has now produced $16,000 in earnings on the campaign and $120,483 lifetime.
Davis, Jr. completed the card with three winners while Fisher, Jr. doubled. Rice, Buffalo Raceway's leading trainer, had a pair of victories.
Racing will resume on Saturday night at 6 p.m. with a 10-race card slated. There's a $438 carryover in the Pick-5 which begins in the second race.
(Buffalo Raceway)