HAMBURG, N.Y. --- After posting 13 victories and putting over $82,000 in the bank last year, Kahoku was in search of his first win of the 2017 campaign after 10 unsuccessful tries. The dry spell ended on Friday night (April 28) as Kahoku took the featured $10,000 Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway by turning back Empire Earl N by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:57.0.

 

Photo by Steve Roth
Kahoku ends drought with 1:57.0 victory in Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway

It was a three-way war to the opening quarter as Empire Earl N, Noble Legend and Kahoku all had a taste of the lead through the first panel of 28.1.

 

Things finally settled down on the front end as Kahoku (Ron Beback Jr.) gained the lead and stepped off fractions of 57.2 and 1:27.2. But it was going to get interesting again as Kahoku locked horns with the first over Empire Earl N (Larry Stalbaum) around the final turn.

 

Midway down the stretch, Kahoku ($4.30) managed to slowly pull away from the stubborn Empire Earl N and stopped the beam in 1:57.0, the quickest trotting time of the season. Noble Legend (John Cummings Jr.) finished in third.

 

With the victory, the 9-year-old gelded Kahoku (SJ's Caviar-Tags Goal) moved his seasonal earnings to $16,914 and $226,391 lifetime. He is owned by Colleen Girdlestone and trained by Mark Laidlaw.

Racing will continue on Saturday night at 6 p.m. with a 13-race program scheduled.  A two day carryover of $2,217 awaits in the Pick 5 that starts in Race 2.

For more information including upcoming promotions, the latest news, race replays and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com