HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Auditorial (pictured below) had a second and a pair of third place finishes in the qualifying legs of the Michael Scores Knockout Claiming Series at Buffalo Raceway but he saved his best for the $22,750 finals Saturday night (April 5) and registered the mild upset in 1:57.4.
The surprises then continued in the co-featured $10,500 Open Pace as Sand Savage ($16.00) posted a head win over the heavily-favored Running Book in a seasonal best of 1:55.1 over the fast track.
Drew Monti, a 19-year-old provisional driver at Buffalo Raceway, enjoyed the night as he guided both Auditorial and Sand Savage to the victories in the co-features. He finished with four winners on the card including Ophiuchus ($2.70) and Big Unit ($31.20).
In the Michael Scores finals, postponed from last week due to snow and poor track conditions, Auditorial ($13.60) got the perfect trip. He sat in second place from the start, following the pace-setting Enzo Seelster (John Cummings) who put up fractions of 28.2, 58.3 and 1:28. In the dash to the wire, Monti urged Auditorial through the inside passing lane and eventually wore down Enzo Seelster to score the 1/2 length decision. Catman (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) took the show position, finishing a mere length behind.
Owned and trained by Daniel Mullet, Auditorial (Artsplace-Special Addition) is an 8-year-old gelding who has now earned $17,589 this season and $164,760 lifetime. It was his second win in 2014 and 17th of his career as well.
In the Open, it was a two-horse breakaway as the pace-setting Running Book and pocket-sitting Sand Savage (picture on left) opened up an 11-length lead on the field by the three-quarter marker. In the stretch, the leg-weary Running Book drifted out badly while Monti kept Sand Savage on a straight course to the finish line and managed to win by a neck.
Sand Savage (Allamerican Native-Sheer Hose) is owned by Robert Salzman and is conditioned by Rose Russo. It was the second win in 11 starts for the 7-year-old horse this year. It upped his winnings to $16,332 in 2014 and $340,184 lifetime.
Racing will resume on Wednesday night at Buffalo Raceway with a 13-race card set to begin at 5 p.m. The $10,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace is the feature and is scheduled as the eighth race.
by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway