Hamburg, NY — Buffalo Raceway’s 2024 driving champion Kevin Cummings wasted no time in getting the jump on the field in 2025 as he registered six victories on the opening card Saturday afternoon (March 1) including all three co-featured events.
It didn’t take long for Cummings to get started as he took the first race aboard Howmac’s Hank ($13.20) and then added five more along the way. He took all three featured events including the co-featured $12,000 pacing events with Stranger Things ($8.30) and Runrunjimmydunn N ($3.10) and notched the decision in the $12,000 trot race aboard Communion Money ($8.80). Cummings was also victorious with Imwoncaptainwiser ($15.80) and McNatural L ($3.60).
Sam Smith, who won the 2024 training title, got off to a great start as he sent three to the winner’s circle.
There was nothing ‘strange’ about the way Stranger Things blew past the field in Buffalo Raceway’s featured $12,000 pace.
Sitting a patient fifth heading down the backstretch the final time, Stranger Things effortlessly blasted his way to the top and easily toppled the stunned pace setting Oaxacan Dream N (David McNeight III) by 2-1/2 lengths in a snappy 1:58.4 over the good track. My Mind Is Madeup (James McNeight Jr.) took the third place spot.
Oaxacan Dream N cut the early fractions of :30.2 and 1:01.2. But Strangers Things couldn’t wait any longer as he tipped first over and easily drew away at the three quarter pole in 1:30.2. If any closers had a thought on catching Stranger Things in the stretch, he quickly erased those thoughts by putting up a sizzling :28.1 final panel.
Co-owned by Kathy Schoeffel and James Reuther and trained by Angelo Nappo., it was the second victory in six tries in 2025 for the 9-year-old Stranger Things (Western Terror-Southwind Prairie). The win moved his seasonal total for $14,760 and $385,802 lifetime.
Cummings’ easiest drive on the day probably was aboard Runrunjimmydunn N as he wired the field in 1:58.2. He romped to the three length score over Silverhill Blaze (Drew Monti) with Blazing Light (Kyle Cummings) rolling in for third.
Runrunjimmydunn N had no issues in establishing the top and used fractions of :30.3, 1:01.1 and 1:30.0. A :28.2 final quarter sealed the deal for Runrunjimmydunn N.
Owned by the Three Ring Circus Stable and conditioned by Samuel Smith,it was the first victory of the year for Runrunjimmydunn N. The 12-year-old gelding has produced $11,460 in earnings this year and $645,427 lifetime.
Communion Money went three wide turning for home and was able to pull out a length win over Grinder (McNeight Jr.) in 2:01.3 in the main trotting event.
The tempo-setting Sonny’s Moni had things under control through three quarters in 1:31.1 but things started falling apart after that. Cummings was able to shake Communion Money three wide turning for home and confidently trotted home for the victory. Grinder held on for second with Crazy Fool (Kyle Cummings) took third.
Owned and trained by Ann Yurenka, it was the second win of the campaign for 4-year-old mare Communion Money (Crazy Wow-Paya La Renta). The score increased her earnings to $11,630 on the year and $123,505 in her career.
Racing will continue on Wednesday afternoon starting at 2:30 p.m.
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