HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Lutetium and driver Kevin Cummings got back together after nearly a four month separation and they celebrated their reunion with an easy two length victory Friday night (May 6) in Buffalo Raceway's $10,000 Open Trot.

 

Lutetium ($3.90) sorely missed the services of Cummings who was out of commission with a broken arm since January 30. While Cummings was sidelined, the front-running Lutetium found the winner's circle just once, that coming back on February 19 when Truman Gale guided the 9-year-old gelding to the victory.

 

But with Cummings back in the sulky and rival B Z Glide in the field, Lutetium was ready to regain his old form.

 

Taking off when the starting gate swung open, Lutetium took no prisoners in setting fractions of 28.4, 58.4 and 1:28.0. While stalling out in recent races, there was no dropping anchor in the stretch this time with Cummings on board. Lutetium confidently trotted home and put up a seasonal best 1:57.4. Strong Hope (Ray Fisher Jr.) took second place and B Z Glide (Mike Caprio) third. 

 

Owned by Colleen Girdlestone and trained by Mark Laidlaw, it was the third win of the season for Lutetium (Credit Winner-Luby). He has now put $26,360 in the bank this season and $382,977 lifetime.

 

Todd Cummings, Kevin Cummings and Jim Morrill Jr. each completed the night with a pair of victories in the bike.

 

Racing will resume at 7 p.m. on Saturday night with a 13-race scheduled. The night will feature the $10,000 Open Pace along with five finals of the Championship Claiming Series. The Pick-5, which starts in the fifth race, has a carryover of $959.