HAMBURG, N.Y. --- It was April Fool's Day at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (April 1) but it was Lucky McTrucky and Shady City who didn't fool around in the $8,600 co-featured pacing events. 

Photo by Steve Roth
Lucky McTrucky hangs on in Buffalo debut.

 

Taking off for the lead from the start, Lucky McTrucky ($7.10) made his Buffalo Raceway debut an impressive one with a diminishing half length victory over China Dream in 1:57.3 over the good track.

 

In the other co-feature, Shady City (Larry Stalbaum) used his patented late kick to gun down the field in a seasonal best 1:55.1.

 

After competing at Yonkers Raceway and Pocono Downs earlier this season, Lucky McTrucky (Ray Fisher Jr.) arrived at the Hamburg half-mile oval sniffing for his first win of 2017.

 

Going right to the top, Lucky McTrucky put of fractions of 29.1, 59.1 and 1:28.4. Things appeared in order for Lucky McTrucky down the stretch but a late surge by China Dream (Shawn Gray) made the race close in the end. Lucky King (Ron Beback Jr.) took the show position.

 

Owned by James Krurilla and trained by Jeff Amann, it was the first victory of the season for Lucky McTrucky (McArdle-Truculent Lady). The 8-year-old gelding has now earned $10,350 this season and $344,437 lifetime.

 

In the second feature, Shady City ($6.60), starting on the outside, took advantage of the breaking pace-setter Flying Cowboy to wrangle the victory. Southwind Torque (Shawn Gray) took second but was 2-1/2 lengths back while Dodger Hanover (John Cummings Jr.) was third.

Photo by Steve Roth
Shady City uses late charge for the victory.

 

Owned by Stalbaum and trained by Kim Asher, it was the third victory in 10 tries for Shady City (Metropolitan-Made In Shade). The 7-year-old gelding has now put $17,236 in the bank this season and $248,813 in his career.

 

Fisher Jr. finished the evening with four wins while Drew Monti added a double. JD Perrin, Kimberly Asher and Sabrina Clevenger all had two training victories.  

 

Racing will resume on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. with an 11-race program scheduled.