Mae Smith celebrated her first lifetime training victory on Friday afternoon, April 5 at Buffalo Raceway as she sent out her 11-year-old trotter Pepin Coolie ($7.60) to win the $10,000 seventh race in 2:00.4.
The 34-year-old Hamburg, New York horsewoman had just three prior training starts -- a second, third and fourth-place finish -- since taking over those duties for Pepin Coolie last month.
Kevin Cummings drove the Swan For All-Right Bayou gelding to a gate-to-wire victory for Smith, topping Heavens Fury (John Cummings Jr.) and The Irishman (James McNieght Jr.) by three lengths. The fractions were :30.2, 1:00.4 and 1:31, with a :29.4 final quarter to cap off the mile over the fast track.
The win was the first in six starts this year for Pepin Coolie and his 33rd career victory, bumping his bankroll to $148,288.
A pair of mares took the co-featured $12,162 trotting events. Retha Babe ($8.60) and Muskingum ($4.60) used different tactics but got the same victorious results on the matinee program.
Retha Babe and driver Kyle Cummings used a first-over trip and was able to grind out a neck decision over Aint No Mojo in 2:01.1 over the fast track while Muskingum and Joseph Chinado Jr. led gate to wire to subdue Poets N Pirates in a snappy 1:58.2.
In the opening co-main event, Silver Buckeye and HP Maestro each battled it out for supremacy to the opening panel. Silver Buckeye (Jim Morrill Jr.) eventually took the lead and posted fractions of :30, 1:01 and 1:31.1. Retha Babe began her long brush up the backstretch the final time and got on even terms with Silver Buckeye. But down the lane, Retha Babe was able to wear down Silver Buckeye and hold off a late charge from Aint No Mojo (David McNeight III),
Co-owned by trainer Tammy Cummings and Kyle Cummings, five-year-old mare Retha Babe (Muscle Massive-Redeposit) earned her first victory of 2024 in her seventh start. The win was her eighth lifetime and jumped her earnings to $86,285.
There was little suspense in the second feature as Muskingum had little pressure to scoot away from the field. In the early going, Muskingum had to deal with the slightly favoured Caviars Yankee (Jim Morrill Jr.), but things changed quickly. Approaching the quarter-mile marker, Caviars Yankee jumped off stride and gave Muskingum an uncontested lead. From there, after fractions of :28.3, :58.1 and 1:28.1, Muskingum was solid in the homestretch and dialed it down in beating Poets N Pirates (Kevin Cummings) by 1-3/4 lengths while Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) was third.
Owned by Fox Racing Inc. and trained by Maggie Chindano, seven-year-old Muskingum (Triumphant Caviar-Abbey Craig) made her second trip to the winner's circle this year from six attempts. The career winner of 25 races has now banked $239,304 lifetime.
Kevin Cummings and Kyle Cummings each had three victories on the card while Chindano Jr. had a double. Tammy Cummings notched two training wins.
Racing will continue on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. with a 13-race program. There's an $892 carryover in the Pick 5, which begins in the second race.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)