Lutetium, already dominating the Open Trot competition at Buffalo Raceway, stepped it up even more Friday night (May 30) when he tied the all-aged track record for trotters on the half-mile oval with a one and three-quarter length victory over BZ Glide in a sizzling 1:56.3 over the fast track in the featured $10,500 event.
The time tied the record set by Scorpion Moon (2007), Delano (2012) and Crazy About Pat (2013).
The win was the fifth straight at Buffalo Raceway for Lutetium, four of which have come in Open competition. And what makes this more remarkable, in all of those starts, he's been in front at every marker.
Being assigned the outside seven post, Lutetium and driver Kevin Cummings bullied their way right to the lead, putting up fractions of :28.4, :58 and 1:27.1. Not good news for the remaining six horses in the field.
BZ Glide (Mike Caprio), who was first over, had the only real chance of chasing down Lutetium in the stretch, but that proved to be futile. Studio City (Ron Beback Jr.) finished third in the seven-horse event.
The win was the seventh in 14 appearances this year for Lutetium (Credit Winner-Luby). The seven-year-old gelding is owned by Colleen Girdlestone and is trained by Mark Laidlaw. The victory pushed his earnings to $40,740 this season and $226,896 lifetime.
Racing continues this Saturday with a 13-race card set for 6:40 p.m. Sunday afternoon action will begin this week as well with 11 races set to go to the post at 1:05 p.m.
(Buffalo Raceway)