24-1 longshot game to the wire at Buffalo

HAMBURG, N.Y. — Sportsmanship (Sportswriter), paying $51.50 to win, was just an afterthought heading down the stretch in Buffalo Raceway’s co-featured $9,000 harness racing trot on Friday afternoon (May 10). But the never quit 12-year-old gelding showed some serious ‘gamesmanship’ late and stunned the field with a nose victory over Kyuquot in a seasonal best 1:57.0.

Things weren’t as crazy in the other main event for the sidewinders, but still surprising, as Captain Krupnik ($21.20) pulled the mild upset with a half a length decision over Poets N Pirates in a season’s best 1:58.1.

Sportsmanship (James McNeight Jr.) seemed out of contention after the three-quarter marker as a wild battle was brewing on the front end. With Kyuquot (Mike Baumeister) finally establishing the slimmest of leads turning for home, Fireball (David McNeight III), Mr Ohanzee A (Joseph Chindano Jr.) and Bet On Blake (Kevin Cummings) weren’t done and were involved in the stretch drive. Unfortunately for them, no one thought about Sportsmanship who was about to embark on a :28.4 last quarter mile.

Midway down the lane, Sportsmanship got into view and steamrolled toward the wire. The only question was if he was going to have enough real estate to nudge past Kyuquot. The photo finish answered that question, and it was yes. Kyuquot finished in a shocked second with Bet On Blake taking third.

Owned by Herman Niedhammer and trained by Thomas Mays, Sportsmanship has won three times in 13 attempts. The win increased his 2024 earnings to $16,011 and $425,414 lifetime.

In the other feature, Bridge Works got control of the front end and parked Magic MVP to the half in :57.4. The favored Flo Lashomb, who was in tow behind Magic MVP on the outside approaching the half, jumped it off and was out of contention.

Meanwhile, Captain Krupnik (Conway Hall-Salt Hill Brigid) sat in the garden spot and blasted past Bridge Works (Kyle Swift) down the backstretch the final time. Poets N Pirates followed along, leaving these two to duke it out. Captain Krupnik (Drew Monti) was able to hit the line first as Poets N Pirates (Kevin Cummings) drifted out and couldn’t get any closer than a half a length.

Owned by Benjamin Ortiz and conditioned by Shawn McDonough, it was the third victory in seven outings for the 8-year-old gelded Captain Krupnik. His bankroll moved to $15,297 on the season and $286,711 in his career.

Racing returns on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. with an 11-race card set. There’s a $1,361 carryover in the Pick 5 which begins in the second race.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway