HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Barn Winner ($10.00) came back home to Buffalo Raceway a 'winner' on Friday night (April 12) by posting a length score over Southern Palms in the $13,000 Open Trot.

Photo by Steve Roth
Barn Winner returns to take the $13,000 Open Trot.

 

Campaigning at Northfield Park thus far this season, Barn Winner had a pair of second place finishes in his last three starts before shuffling back to Buffalo Raceway.

 

Being assigned the inside post, Barn Winner (Ray Fisher Jr.) got the perfect pocket journey behind the tempo-setting Southern Palms (Drew Monti). With splits of :29.4, :59.2 and 1:30.1, Southern Palms couldn't hold back the stretch drive of Barn Winner who cruised to a length win in 2:00.0 over the fast track. 

 

Wheels A Turning (Jim Morrill Jr.), who broke around the first turn, regrouped in time to grab the third place check.

 

Co-owned by Tanah Merah Farms LCC and the Swift Racing Stable, Ryan Swift trained the 5-year-old gelded Barn Winner (Credit Winner-Hallmarker). The victory, his first in seven attempts, improved his seasonal winnings to $12,210 and $177,483 lifetime.

 

In the $10,000 Class A Trot, Lougazi, knocking on the door the past two weeks with a pair of second place finishes, got back to winner's circle with a comfortable two length win over Labatt Hanover in 1:59.1.

 

Getting away fourth, Lougazi started a slow and steady climb to the top just past the half mile marker, took command at the top of the stretch, and rolled to the popular $3.80 win. Labatt Hanover (Shawn McDonough) rallied late for second while Snapshot Springs (Monti) was awarded third after Empire Earl N broke stride just before the wire.

 

Owned by Mary Warriner and trained by Swift, it was the first victory of 2019 for Lougazi (Lou's Legacy-Winning Blade). The 5-year-old gelding has now produced $11,000 in earnings this season and $115,403 in his career.

 

Fisher Jr., Jim Morrill Jr. and Monti all had driving doubles with Swift conditioning a pair of winners.

 

Racing resumes on Saturday night at 6 p.m. with a 12-race program slated.

 

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