Somebody forgot to tell Instant Riches he wasn't in the featured or even co-featured race at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (June 6).
But Instant Riches ($6.50) didn't care and stole the headlines anyways with a 1:54.3 victory in a $8,800 conditioned/optional claiming event, which set a new Buffalo Raceway mark for four-year-old colt pacers breaking the old standard of 1:54.4 established in 2006 by Moonstrosity.
After watching Mr Perseverance hit the opening panel in :27.3, driver Jack Flanigen sent Instant Riches ($6.50) to the lead. They enjoyed the uneventful remaining three-quarter-mile trip in front, scoring a three-quarter-length advantage over Mr Perseverance (Shawn Gray), tripping the timer in a new record of 1:54.3. Burton Blue Chip (Lee Dahn) finished in third.
Owned by Eric Prevost and trained by JD Perrin, Instant Riches (Whitefish Falls-Boops) has nine wins on the season in 19 attempts, earning $35,910 in 2015 and $59,960 lifetime.
It may have been a slow opening half-mile produced by Lucky Nadotremblay, but the five-year-old horse sure put on the after burners in the payoff half in scoring surprising gate-to-wire, one and a half length victory over Unicorn Hanover in the $10,500 Open Pace.
Starting from the rail, driver Shawn McDonough and Lucky Nadotremblay had absolutely no challengers for the lead as the field of six neatly dropped to the inside in numerical order. Setting fractions of :29.1 and :58.1 to the half, Lucky Nadotremblay started to pick up the tempo the second time around.
The final half-mile was a game of "catch me if you can" that Lucky Nadotremblay ($19.00) won. Posting a final split of :56.3, the five challengers had no answer and were left to battle for the minor spoils. Lucky Nadotremblay held off Unicorn Hanover (Jack Flanigen) while Western Alumni (Jim McNeight) finished in third.
Co-owned by Paul and Ronald Viele and trained by Alex Guiliani, Lucky Nadotremblay (Blissfull Hall-Periella Hanover) has five wins this year and $37,765 in the bank.
In the co-featured $9,500 Open II Pace, Peenie (Kevin Cummings) set sail from the rail and coasted to a popular $4.00 victory over Sand Savage in 1:55 over the fast track.
With two horses breaking stride behind the starting gate -- Charliesandjimmys and Junior Pride -- Peenie had no problem charging to the top from the pylons. Setting fractions of :29, :58 and 1:26.3, Peenie (Kevin Cummings) had no trouble in holding off any emerging late threats.
Co-owned by trainer John Mungillo and the Decker's Corner Stable, the 10-year-old gelded Peenie (Real Artist-Tre Cross) has reached the winner's circle four times in 2015, earning $30,485 and increased his impressive lifetime earnings to $672,153.
Racing will continue on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. with a 12-race program slated. It is the first Sunday matinee of the season.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)