HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Finally! After four consecutive second place finishes, Aritzia Hanover ($4.80) wiped away the runner-up blues by capturing Buffalo Raceway's featured $9,000 pace on Wednesday night in a seasonal best 1:57.1 over the fast track.

Photo by Steve Roth
Aritzia Hanover gets out of second place rut with win.

 

Drew Monti in the meantime had no issues finding the winner's circle as he posted a six-bagger to take over the lead in the driver's standings. Monti now has 66 victories and holds a four-win advantage over Shawn Gray who sits in second place with 62.

 

Starting the from rail, Aritzia Hanover (Billy Davis Jr.) played hard ball to the opening quarter pole, snuffing out the leave attempts by Validus Deo and Sgt Molly Pitcher.

 

With fractions of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:28.3, the pace setting Aritzia Hanover was primed for the closers. Validus Deo lost any chance by jumping off stride in the passing lane but Hey Kobe (Jim Morrill Jr.) was in hot pursuit on the outside. 

 

Aritzia Hanover managed to cling to the narrow neck victory as Hey Kobe drifted wide in deep stretch to come up just short. Sgt Molly Pitcher (Ron Beback Jr.) took the show position. 

 

Co-owned by the Vogel & Wags Nags Stable and Pine Hill Racing LTD, it was the third win in 10 attempts in 2018 for the 7-year-old mare Aritzia Hanover (Bettor's Delight-Attitude Hanover). The victory pushed her earnings this year to $21,760 and $176,521 lifetime.

 

Davis Jr. had a double on the card while trainer JD Perrin scored a pair of wins.

 

Racing will resume on Saturday night with an 11-race program set. There's a special post time of 7 p.m. to accommodate the running of the Kentucky Derby.