Hamburg, NY — Daylight Rush ($11.80) finished with a flourish on Saturday night (May 15) and convincingly took Buffalo Raceway’s $11,200 Class AA-Open Handicap Pace in 1:53.4, the fastest time of the 2021 meet.

Daylight Rush convincingly took Buffalo Raceway’s $11,200 Class AA-Open Handicap Pace in 1:53.4. Bill Burke photo.

With Santana Beach (Kevin Cummings) leading the way from the start with splits of :28.4, :57 and 1:25.1 over the fast track, Daylight Rush (David McNeight III) went first over down the backstretch the final time and got on even terms with the pacesetter turning for home.

Daylight Rush left little doubt in the lane as the 8-year-old gelding pulled away from Santana Beach, enjoying a three-quarter length advantage at the wire. Black Is Back (Shawn McDonough), the winner of last week’s man event, finished in third.

Owned and trained by Cassandra Johnson, it was the fourth victory of the season for Daylight Rush (Art Colony-Pass With Caution). The win moved his seasonal earnings to $21,654 and $279,860 lifetime.

In the co-featured $9,800 Class A-Open Handicap Trot, Mugshots Bro got up late and collared Mr Quaker by a half-length in 1:58. McDonough, who collected his 1,000th career win Friday night at Vernon Downs, started his march to his next thousand by steering Mugshots Bro to the popular $3.60 score.

Mr Quaker zoomed to the lead and tried to bottom out the field of seven by putting up strong splits of :29.1, :57.3 and 1:27.1. Approaching the final pole, Mr Quaker saw his big lead dwindle as Mugshots Bro came calling.

Nearing the finish line, Mugshots Bro was able to stride past the stubborn Mr Quaker while Tartufo Lindy (Kevin Cummings) rallied for third.

Co-owned by Herman Niedhammer Jr. and Herman Niedhammer, the 9-year-old gelded Mugshots Bro (Jailhouse Jesse-Photo Emmy) collected his first win of the campaign after two previous tries. The win jumped his seasonal bankroll to $8,698 and $226,715 lifetime.

McDonough and Ray Fisher Jr. each doubled on the card.

Racing will resume on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with a 12-race card scheduled. There will be a guaranteed pool of $3,000 in the Pick-5 which begins in the second race.

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