A pair of veteran trotters notched their first victories of the season in the co-featured $12,162 conditioned events at Buffalo Raceway on Friday afternoon, April 12 as Lougazi posted a popular $2.50 score in the opening division while Con Air Hall pulled a $27.80 stunner in the other bracket.
The 10-year-old Lougazi (pictured above), now a winner 59 times in his sparkling career, used his patented late rally to wear down Caviars Yankee by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58.2 while the 11-year-old Con Air Hall wired the field in dashing the hopes of Good Boy by a neck in 1:59 over the fast track.
In the first race, Caviars Yankee (Kevin Cummings) got the jump on the field and registered an opening half in :59.2. Lougazi, who was sitting in third place, went first-over and got on even terms with the tempo-setting Caviars Yankee midway down the backstretch. The pair raced as a tandem throughout the lane with Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) eventually wearing down Caviars Yankee to take the decision. Aint No Mojo (Kyle Cummings) picked up the show cheque.
Owned by Mary Warriner and conditioned by Ryan Swift, Lougazi (Lous Legacy-Winning Blade) picked up his first win of the season in six tries and the victory pushed his lifetime earnings to $527,321.
Con Air Hall (Drew Monti) took immediate control off the starting gate in the second division, rolling to splits of :29.4, :59.2 and 1:29. Turning for home, Con Air Hall looked to have things well in hand but a late charge from Good Boy (Fisher Jr.) provided some anxious moments at the wire. However, that bid came up just a neck short. Poets N Pirates (Kevin Cummings) finished in third.
Owned by Ron Viele and trained by Jennifer Giuliani, Con Air Hall (Groton Hall-Charms Chip) scored his first win this year in his sixth attempt following back-to-back runner-up finishes. His career earnings are now just shy of $380,000.
Monti led the driver's statistics on Friday with three wins while David McNeight III and Shawn McDonough all had doubles. McDonough also had a pair of training victories.
Racing returns on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. with 10 races set to go to the post.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)