Buttinski prevailed in a gruelling race-long duel with favourite My Buddy Sam to earn his first career Preferred-class victory in the $12,500 Preferred Trot at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Monday, May 4.
Buttinski was two-wide through the first turn to forge past the quick-leaving Insanity (Samuel Fillion) for the lead nearing the quarter in :28.2, and driver Austin Sorrie kept him marching to hang out My Buddy Sam (Brady Galliers). The top two raced through a second panel as quick as the first, reaching the half in :56.4, and they went into a sprint down the backstretch as My Buddy Sam eclipsed the pacesetter. Buttinski pulled a half-length back in front at three-quarters in 1:26.4 but could not shake his adversary, and the clash raged around the final turn. Buttinski straightened for home in the lead and did not waver, holding off the tough My Buddy Sam by three-quarters of a length for the 1:58.4 win. Myretirementdream (Andy Moore) was third.
Mary Ratchford of Caledonia, Ont. owns and trains Buttinski, who tallied his first Preferred-level win in his second attempt after a show finish last week. The victory upped his 2026 tally to three-for-seven, and the five-year-old son of Lookslikeachpndale-Dance Hall Wendy has now taken 10 wins in 51 career starts and earned $74,386. He paid $10.70 to win.
To view Monday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Western Fair Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)