Winning Legends takes fourth straight by a nose

HAMBURG, N.Y. — Winning Legends (Winning Mister-Fastest Of All) is starting to become a ‘legend’ as he collected his fourth straight Open Trot victory with a nose win in Buffalo Raceway’s $15,500 main harness racing event on Friday afternoon (April 28). He nipped Alan by a mere nostril in 1:59.2 over the fast track.

With three straight wins coming in the Open Trot at Monticello Raceway to begin his 2023 campaign, Winning Legends ($12.80) shuffled off to Buffalo to try his luck.

Alan (Jim Morrill Jr.) played the give and go with Winning Legends approaching the first split. With fractions of :29.1, 1:00.3 and 1:30.0 registered, it boiled down to a two horse race.

With Alan in control by a length hitting the top of the lane, he started to drift out in the lane. This allowed Winning Legends (Justin Huckabone) to trot through the gaping hole in the passing lane and finally got the advantage in the final stride. Alan, who had broken equipment and went off stride while leading last week’s Open, had to settle for a heart breaking second. Cr Blazin Beauty (John Cummings Jr.) took third, two lengths behind the victor.

Owned by Room 4040 LLC Stable and conditioned by Jon Berube, the 7-year-old Winning Legends is now a perfect 4-for-4 on the season, earning $18,750 and $166,677 lifetime.

In the $11,500 Trot, J-s Hopscotch (Mr Web Page-Better Than Dreams) moved up the condition ladder and didn’t find any issues in the tougher level as he ran away from the field with a 7-1/4 length victory over Batting Stats in 1:57.3.

After posting a convincing 3-3/4 length decision in the $10,000 class in 1:57.3 on April 21, J-s Hopscotch put in a repeat effort this time around with the same dominating results.

Briefly tucking in second at the start of the race, driver Kyle Cummings took J-s Hopscotch pulled right out for the lead and hit the first quarter in :29.4. From there, J-s Hopscotch posted fractions of :59.0 and 1:28.3, opening up a four length advantage entering the home stretch. There was little suspense left in the lane as J-s Hopscotch was in total command. Batting Stats (Keith Kash Jr.) took second place with Charlatan Hanover (Morrill Jr.) finishing in third.

Owned by Rags To Riches of PA LLC and conditioned by Tammy Cummings, it was the fourth win in 14 outings on the season for the 5-year-old J-s Hopscotch. The victory improved his 2023 earnings to $27,777 and $121,007 in his career. He paid $3.20 to win.

Morrill Jr., Buffalo Raceway’s leading driver, put another four victories in the win column. Trainer Shawn McDonough sent three to the winner’s circle on the program.

Racing will continue on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. with a 12-race card set to go to the post. The feature will be the $15,500 Open Pace that is slated for the seventh race.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway