Haste, an eleven-year-old Inquire gelding, won the $11,000 Open Trot in a season’s best 1:59.1 at Buffalo Raceway on Friday night (June 28), over a track labelled 'good'.
The win was the second in 11 attempts this season for Garry Martin's Haste, who finished second in the Open II last week.
Sue Stockwell trainee Haste ($20.40), dismissed by the bettors at 9-1, settled in second from post two with driver Shawn McDonough in the bike as Hailstorm Volo (Jack Flanigen) hit the quarter in :28.4. Last week’s Open winner Mythical Hall (Ron Beback Jr.) cleared the leader, and hit the half in a swift :58.2.
Haste, who was shuffled back to fifth at the top of the stretch, was able to use the passing lane, and with a :30 last quarter-mile, beat second=place finisher Headingforaruckus (Ed McNeight Jr.) by 1-1/4 lengths at the finish line. Rocky Boy (Jacques Beaudoin) came in third.
The $5,500 winner's share of the purse put Haste’s seasonal earnings at $12,470 and lifetime earnings at $542,098. The win was his 37th in 258 lifetime starts.
Reinsman John Cummings Jr. led all drivers with four wins on the card.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)