HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Surprise, surprise, surprise.
Despite not being in the main event at Buffalo Raceway Wednesday night (May 7), Majic Laughter became 'the feature' as she pulled an unexpected stunner, setting a new track record for aged pacing mares with a 1:54.2 mark over the fast surface.
Majic Laughter went wire-to-wire in a $7,600 race for fillies and mares who were non-winners of $4,000 in their last five starts or an optional $15,000 tag. She eclipsed the time set of 1:54.3 recorded by Real Joy and Pathtodover in 2013. She was in for the tag ($18,000) but that didn't stop her from putting up the fastest pacing mile of the year at Buffalo Raceway.
Driver/trainer Jim McNeight sent the lukewarm favorite Majic Laughter ($6.70) to the top from the rail and posted fractions of 28.1, 57.2, and 1:26.1. A final quarter panel of 28.1 allowed the 5-year-old mare to march to a 4-1/2 length win over Fiftyonefifty (Kevin Cummings) and set the new standard.
Majic Laughter (Western Terror-Pumpsandpearls) is owned by Bradley Jackson. It was her second victory of the season and now has bankrolled $11,383 in 2014.
In the featured $10,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace, there was another surprise as Taylor Rei ($16.00) scored a 1-3/4 length decision over Ugly Betty in 1:56.
Sitting third past the half, driver Ray Fisher Jr. went to the outside and started to grind to the lead. At the three-quarter post, pace-setter Jens Underdog gave up the lead as Taylor Rei blew on by, opening up a three-length edge at the top of the stretch.
From there, the lead to proved to be insurmountable as Taylor Rei (Cheyenne Rei-Lady Raider) stayed on task to hold off the late-charging Ugly Betty (Jack Flanigen). Jens Underdog held on for third.
The 6-year-old Taylor Rei is owned by Mo Coo Inc. and Jonathan Klee Racing and is trained by Ryan Swift. It was the mare's third win in 11 starts this year and pushed her earnings to $20,328.
Racing will continue on Friday night with a 12-race program set to begin at 6:40 p.m.
by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway