Jim Morrill Jr. red hot with seven winners

HAMBURG, N.Y. — When you’re hot, you’re hot. Right now, harness racing driver Jim Morrill Jr. is scalding hot at Buffalo Raceway.

Morrill Jr. continued his torrid streak as he collected seven victories on Friday afternoon (April 14) including the featured $15,500 Open Trot and two divisions of the $12,500 Jumpstart Series. He currently leading the pack in the driver’s standings at Buffalo Raceway with 32 wins, he has 17 wins on the last three programs.

It was the fourth time that Morrill Jr. has had seven victories on a card at Buffalo Raceway, the last time was back in 2016. He just missed tying Kevin Cumming’s record of eight victories on a program that was accomplished in June of 2005.

One of Morrill’s wins came in the Open Trot as he guided Credit List (Credit Winner-Ashlee’s Dream) to a convincing three-quarter length score over The Irishman (James McNeight Jr.).

There was a scrum for supremacy on the front end and when things sorted themselves out, it was Credit List showing the way. With fractions of :29.2, :58.4 and 1:28.2, Morrill Jr. and Credit List enjoyed their pleasurable and carefree journey down the lane, coasting home in front of late closing The Irishman and Danzon Hanover (David McNeight III).

Owned by Room4040 LLC Stables and trained by Kevin Reynolds Jr., it was the fourth trip to the winner’s circle in 10 attempts in 2023 for the 6-year-old gelded Credit List. The win upped his seasonal bankroll to $38,022 and $318,347 lifetime. He paid $4.10 to win.

The sub-featured $11,500 trotting race saw Muskingum ($4.20), the lone mare in the field, stay patient then surge to the top, coasting home to a 1-1/4 length victory over Le Millenaire in 1:58.2.

Bacardi (Kevin Cummings) took early command but lost the advantage at the quarter pole as Le Millenaire wanted to put up the fractions. It didn’t last long as Bacardi regained the lead away from LeMillenaire while the patient Muskingum laid in wait from third.

With splits on the board or :29.1, 58.4 and 1:28.3, driver David McNeight III made the winning move with Muskingum approaching the final marker, slowly but steadily increasing her margin. Le Millenaire made a final lunge which earned him the second place check while Bacardi was third.

Muskingum (Triumphant Caviar-Abbey Craig) is a 6-year-old who is owned by Fox Racing Inc. is conditioned by Joseph Chindano Jr. The victory upped her seasonal earnings to $17,524 and $192,684 lifetime.

There were four $12,500 divisions in the Jumpstart Series for horses with a Trackmaster Rating of 73.5 or less. Payara (Morrill Jr.) got things started in the first event as he pounced first over past the three quarter pole and collected the $4.80 win in 1:56.3. Rearview Blue Chip made it two straight in the Series with a popular $2.50 triumph in 1:57.0. Traffic Citation made it three victories in a row, two coming in the Jumpstart Series, with a $3.50 nod in 1:57.3 while the last race saw YS Lotus ($3.50) register the fastest time among the winners with a 1:56.2 clocking.

While Morrill Jr. stole the spotlight, McNeight III and Kevin Cummings had driving triples. Samuel Smith, Reynolds Jr. and Jennifer Giuliani each posted two training wins.

Racing will continue on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. with a 12-race card on tap. There are a trio of $15,000 races in the Jumpstart Series for horses with a Trackmaster Rating of 77 or less while the main event will be the $15,500 Open Pace which has attracted a field of seven.