Helenas Hope ($11.00) and Kisses N Kicks ($3.70) were the queens in the finals of the inaugural Claiming Championship Series at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (May 4) as each found the winner's circle in their respective divisions.
Helenas Hope took the $10,000 filly and mare pacing category for claimers $4,000-$7,000 in 1:57.3 while Kisses N Kicks captured the $8,000-$12,500 bracket in 1:57.3 for the distaff pacers in the race worth $14,800. Both winners posted seasonal marks in their victories.
The Claiming Series is based on gait, gender and claiming prices with horses earning points since the season began back in January. The top eight point-earners in each division then battle it out for a purse that is approximately double than what they normally race for. The final five divisions will be held on Saturday night and a new Claiming Championship Series will begin next week and ending in July.
In the first event, Helenas Hope sat the pocket behind the heavily favoured Iwannabejustlikeu, who cut the fractions of :28.2, :58.2 and 1:28. But in the stretch, driver Todd Cummings found plenty of room in the passing lane with Helenas Hope to take the lead. They had to hold back the late charge of Delightful Caitlin (Ron Beback Jr.), who finished in second, three-quarters of a lengths back. Iwannabejustlikeu (Ray Fisher Jr.) took the show spot.
Owned by Maurice Bazinet and trained by JD Perrin, Helenas Hope (Dream Away-Windy Witch) earned her fifth victory from 13 starts. The seven-year-old mare has made $17,150 in 2016 and $149,850 lifetime.
In the other race, Kisses N Kicks went wire-to-wire and held off stablemate Heavenly Place (David McNeight III) by three-quarters of a length while Voltina finished in third.
Kisses N Kicks went out and put up fractions of :29, :59.3 and 1:29.2. She looked like she was in a heap of trouble coming around the final turn as Heavenly Place and Voltina (Kevin Cummings) were converging in. But driver Jim Morrill Jr. kept Kisses N Kicks on task and they managed to hold for the victory.
Kisses N Kicks (Life Sign-Kissing Rain) is owned by Courtney McNeight and trained by David McNeight Jr. The win was the fourth of the year for the eight-year-old mare, moving her bankroll to $22,200 this season and $218,231 in her career.
Kevin Cummings and Todd Cummings each doubled in the bike while trainer Allan McCarty had two victories.
Racing will continue on Friday night with an 11-race card set for 5 p.m. Buffalo Raceway will be holding a benefit Chicken BBQ on Friday night from noon until 8 p.m. in the clubhouse. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will benefit the Food Bank of Western New York.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)