by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Driver Shawn Gray used two different methods in the co-featured $8,500 conditioned paces for the fillies and mares and got the desired results Wednesday night at rainy Buffalo Raceway (March 25).

Ugly Betty ($3.20) needed every inch of the race track to nip Basic Survival in the opener while Sadies Place ($3.70) got to the front end at the quarter pole and cruised from there to complete the chalky $8.70 early daily double. 

It was just the start of a good night for Gray as he finished the card with four victories.

After battling against the boys the past two weeks, finishing a respectable second and fourth, Ugly Betty showed she's still 'looking good' when facing the girls. 

Basic Survival (Jack Flanigen) zoomed right to the lead and put up fractions of 31.2, 1:01.1 and 1:30.2. Ugly Betty, in the meantime, began her first over journey at the three-eighths pole and made slow and steady headway to the half. 

At the three-quarter marker, Basic Survival and Ugly Betty were eyeball to eyeball, preparing for the stretch run. It looked like Basic Survival had 'survived' the challenge midway down the lane but the stubborn Ugly Betty made one last gasp near the wire and pulled off the nose victory in 1:59 over the sloppy track. You're Too Funny (Jim McNeight) finished in third.

Owned by Margaret Payne and Jennifer Falcone, Ugly Betty (Camluck-Red Road Rage) is trained by Dennis Dylo. It the the fourth win in 10 attempts this season for the 7-year-old mare. She has earned $25,279 in 2015 and $198,752 lifetime.

Sadies Place in the meantime scored her second straight victory with a 1:58.2 decision over Bad Girl Vegas.

It was a three-horse scrum to the lead before the quarter pole with Fiftyonefifty and Bad Girl Vegas each enjoying a brief lead. But Sadies Place became the third leader of the race and ended up being the final one, stepping off to a 1-3/4 length win. Bad Girl Vegas (Drew Monti) took second while Dontch Remember rolled into the show spot.

Sadies Place (Sadies Dreamboat-Eicarl Leggs) is a 10-year-old mare owned by Barry Franklin and trained by Darren Taneyhill. She's now won four times in 10 starts this season, bankrolling $18,385 in 2015 and $326,390 lifetime.

Monti had a driving triple and Ron Beback Jr. posted a double on the night.

Buffalo Raceway's leading trainer JD Perrin hopped on the sulky for the first time this season and drove Northern Bullet to a popular $3.00 win. Perrin finished the night with two training victories as did Taneyhill.

Racing continues on Friday night at Buffalo Raceway with a 12-race card scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

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

(Top photo) Ugly Betty (#6) gets nose in front in Buffalo Raceway opener.