by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Casino Hotel

Saratoga Springs, NY — Buff (Credit Winner) cruised to victory in the Tuesday (Aug. 21) feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel as the Jackie Greene trainee went wire-to-wire in the $14,500 Open Trot.

Melissa Simser-Iovino photo

Buff had plenty left for the stretch run and drew away late before stopping the timer in 1:54.3.

Buff won back-to-back Opens in July and after not factoring in his two most recent starts was offensive minded in the early going on Tuesday, powering out to the lead in a :27.1 first quarter. The 5-year-old never got much of a breather, trotting a half in :56.2 before checking in at three-quarters in 1:25.2. Never facing a serious challenge, Buff had plenty left for the stretch run and drew away late before stopping the timer in 1:54.3.

The win time not only served as a seasonal mark for Buff but matched the fastest time for any trotter this season at Saratoga. Previously, Tropical Storm Bi and New York Sire Stakes star The Veteran recorded victories in 1:54.3.

Buff, who was driven to victory by Frank Coppola Jr., was the 4-5 public choice on Tuesday night as he registered his third win of the season in the local Open and eighth overall. Longshot Dragin The Wagon (Phil Fluet) sat the pocket in the feature and finished second while Piercewave Hanover (Jordan Derue) came from last to earn the show spot.

Buff won 10 races in 2017 and is on pace to have an even bigger campaign in 2018 for trainer Jackie Greene who currently sits fourth in the local trainer standings.

Live racing continues on Wednesday night at Saratoga with a 7:05 p.m. first post.