Daylight Rush finished with a flourish on Saturday night (May 15) and convincingly took Buffalo Raceway's $11,200 Class AA-Open Handicapped Pace in 1:53.4, the fastest time of the 2021 meet.
Santana Beach led the way from the start with splits of :28.4, :57.0 and 1:25.1 over the "fast" track. Daylight Rush went first over up the backstretch the final time and drew on even terms with the pacesetter turning for home.
Daylight Rush left little doubt in the lane as the eight-year-old gelding pulled away from Santana Beach, enjoying a length advantage at the wire. Black Is Back, the winner of last week's main event, finished in third.
Owned and trained by Cassandra Johnson, it was the fourth victory of the season for Daylight Rush (Art Colony-Pass With Caution). The win moved his seasonal earnings to $16,054 and $279,460 lifetime. David McNeight III drove the $11.80 winner.
In the co-featured $9,800 Class A-Open Handicapped Trot, Mugshots Bro got up late and collared Mr Quaker by a length in 1:58. Driver Shawn McDonough, who collected his 1,000th win Friday night at Vernon Downs, started his march to his next thousand by steering Mugshots Bro to the popular $3.60 score.
Mr Quaker zoomed to the lead and tried to bottom out the field of seven by posting strong splits of :29.1, :57.3 and 1:27.1. Approaching the final pole, Mr Quaker saw his big lead dwindle as Mugshots Bro came a calling.
Nearing the finish line, Mugshots Bro was able to stride past the stubborn Mr Quaker while Tartufo Lindy rallied for third.
Co-owned by Herman Niedhammer and Herman Niedhammer Jr., the nine-year-old gelded Mugshots Bro (Jailhouse Jesse-Photo Emmy) collected his first win of the campaign after two previous tries. The win jumped his seasonal bankroll to $8,698 and $226,715 lifetime.
McDonough and Ray Fisher Jr. each doubled on the card.
Racing will resume on Wednesday evening (May 19) at 5 p.m. (EDT) with a 12-race card scheduled. There will be a guaranteed pool of $3,000 in the Pick 5, which begins in the second race.
(Buffalo Raceway)