"She's really sharp right now," said driver Jim Morrill Jr. after he guided Majestic Kat ($2.70) to an easy two-length victory over Lougazi in Buffalo Raceway's featured $13,000 Open Trot on Friday night (May 31).
It was the second straight win for Majestic Kat, who arrived back in Western New York after just registering a 2-1/4 length score at Flamboro Downs on May 26.
Morrill Jr. had a big night as well by capturing five of the nine events on the program.
When the starting gate swung open, B Z Glide and Kahoku took off while Majestic Kat toiled in third. But Morrill Jr. changed his mind about tucking in and raced to the lead instead, a decision that proved to be the right one.
"I was just being careful with her getting around the first turn. I didn't want her to break," Morrill Jr. said. "I knew I'd get to the lead eventually."
And once gaining the top, there was no looking back for Majestic Kat as she posted fractions of :28.4, :57.3 and 1:29.1. Enjoying a four-length advantage at the top of the stretch, the remainder of the field were in surrender mode and tussled for the minor spoils with Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) picking up second-place and Southern Palms (Kevin Cummings) collecting third.
Owned by the Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and the Pine Hill Racing Stable, the five-year-old Majestic Son-Order By Matilda mare notched her seventh win in 15 attempts this year. She was now produced $52,100 in earnings this year and $258,627 in her career.
Maria Rice, who trains Majestic Kat, had a double on the night.
In the sub-featured $10,000 Class A-B Handicap trot, another Majestic Son mare, Ticket To Seattle ($5.90) found passage to the winner's circle with a non-threatened three-quarter-length victory over Are You In. The final clocking was 1:58 over the fast track which equaled his lifetime mark set last season at Woodbine.
The favoured Empire Earl N (Fisher Jr.) jumped out to the lead and put up fractions of :28.4, :59.3 and and 1:29.1. Ticket To Seattle, in the meantime, started her first-over trip down the backstretch the final time and was nose-to-nose with Empire Earl N with a panel to go.
Ticket To Seattle (Morrill Jr.) then began to nudge away from the pacesetter and took the length nod over Are You In (Cummings), who finished in second. Empire Earl N held on for the show position.
The win was the fourth in 17 starts this year for the five-year-old mare, who is owned by William Emmons and trained by James Clouser Jr. The victory took her 2019 bankroll to $20,778 and lifetime earnings to $137,873.
Racing will continue on Saturday evening at 6 p.m., when a 13-race card will be presented. There's a carryover of $2,528 in the Pick-5, which begins in the second race.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)