Buffalo Raceway’s 2016 meet will kick off this Wednesday (January 13) and the track has carded the program’s feature dash as Race 1.
The 11-race card will kick off with a first-race post time of 5 p.m., when pacing fillies and mares will battle in the Open II.
Ding has been established as the morning line favourite at 3-1 with Ron Beback Jr. in the sulky. Trained by James Clouser Jr. and owned by Leonard Seagall, Ding has finished first and second in her most recent starts at this level at Batavia Downs and has drawn Post 6.
Heavenly Place has been in the money in all of her last six starts and had 13 victories in 2015, earning over $62,000. She'll draw plenty of attention from the handicappers and will get the services of David McNeight III in the bike.
The major danger could come from the front-stepping Memumsnotnice who was assigned Post 8. The John Mungillo-trained Memumsnotnice has earned over $309,000 in her career, including over $54,000 last season. Drew Monti has received the call to steer the seven-year-old mare, who has been tabbed at 5-1 on the morning line.
Buffalo Raceway's new Pick-5 wager, which carries a 50-cent minimum, begins in the fifth race. If the pot is not hit, it will carry over to the next racing night.
Opening week will continue on Friday night with a new first-race post time of 5 p.m. while Saturday night action will now begin at 6 p.m.
(Buffalo Raceway)