Driver Drew Monti let Rockstar Temper and Thisoneandonemore watch their competition do the dirty work, but they each reaped the benefits in the end to highlight the featured events at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (May 16).
Rockstar Temper took the $10,500 Open Pace with a three-quarter-length win over Jokerman in a seasonal-best 1:54.4, while in the $9,500 Open II Pace, Thisoneandonemore got up in the shadow of the wire to notch the victory in 1:55.2.
The victories by Rockstar Temper and Thisoneandonemore allowed Monti to sweep the early Daily Double, which returned $22.60. Monti finished the night with four trips to the winner's circle.
In the opener, Jokerman (Jack Flanigen) set sail from the rail and posted fractions of :29.2, :58 and 1:27. Rockstar Temper ($5.20) sat the pocket and tipped out to collar the pacesetting Jokerman. Western Alumni (Jim McNeight) was along for third.
The win was the third in 12 starts this season for Rockstar Temper (Rocknroll Hanover-Dragon Temper). The seven-year-old is owned by James Carll Caradon and trained by Darrin Monti. The gelding has earned $32,600 this year and $321,913 lifetime.
It was almost an instant replay of the first race in the back half of the early Double as Thisoneandonemore ($11.80) sat in the garden spot behind the front-stepping Lucky Nadotremblay (Shawn McDonough). This time, instead of tipping to the outside, Monti used the passing lane with Thisoneandonemore to win by a neck. Lucky Nadotrembley was a 'tough luck' second while Charliesandjimmys (Kevin Cummings) rallied for third-place.
Thisoneandonemore is owned by David Miller and is conditioned by Ryan Shafer. The six-year-old gelding, fresh off two wins and a second at Northfield Park, has now won four times in 2015 tries, earning $21,013.
McNeight, Cummings, Shawn Gray and Ron Beback Jr. all had driving doubles on the program.
Racing will continue on Wednesday night with a 13-race card set for 5 p.m. at Buffalo Raceway.
(Buffalo Raceway)