Hamburg, NY — Drew Monti collected his 2,000th career driving victory on Saturday evening (March 12) when he steered YS Lotus ($4.10) to the win in Buffalo Raceway’s 10th race. Ironically, Monti’s 2,000th win came in a race that went in 2:00.0.

Drew Monti collected his 2,000th career driving victory on Saturday evening. Bill Burke photo.

Monti entered the evening three short of the mark. Things didn’t start out good as four of his scheduled drives were scratched along with snow and windy conditions.

But he was able to start and chip into the mark by guiding Charmbo Orbit to the victory in the sixth race. Monti then posted an $11.80 score with Silverhill Blaze in the eighth race, setting him up for one more attempt on the night, that aboard YS Lotus in the finale.

The 27-year-old Monti, who started to drive at Buffalo in May of 2013, didn’t disappoint as he took YS Lotus to a popular $4.10 decision in the nightcap.

Photo Bomber ($3.80) didn’t let Schnickel Fritz steal his photo opportunity on Saturday night as he held on for a tight nose victory in Buffalo Raceway’s $13,500 Open I-II Handicap Trot.

Paprike Blue Chip ($4.10) had to hang on late as well to turn back the challenge of a hard charging Wild Bill M by a neck in the $13,100 conditioned/optional claiming pace.

Photo Bomber was fired right to the lead by driver Kevin Cummings and they notched fractions of :31.1, 1:02.3 and 1:34. Things got dicey down the stretch as Photo Bomber was seriously challenged by Schnickel Fritz (Kyle Cummings) and the late arriving Pilgrim Caviar (David McNeight III) but had just enough left in the tank at the wire.

Co-owned by Terence Miller and Mark Keller, Photo Bomber (Explosive Matter-Phanny’s Photo) is an 8-year-old gelding who is trained by Jennifer Giuliani. The victory pushed his seasonal earnings to $12,496 and $302,134 lifetime.

In the pacing main event, Paprike Blue Chip (Shawn McDonough) stomped out to the lead with splits of :29.2, 1:00.1 and 1:30 and managed to stave off the late charge of Wild Bill M (Jim McNeight Jr.). Reggiano (David McNeight III) rolled in for the show spot in a race that was completed in 2:00.3.

Owned by Thomas and Diane Wescott, Paprike Blue Chip (Roll With Joe-Bliss N Vinegar) is conditioned by Angelo Nappo. The 7-year gelding has now produced $14,430 in earnings in 2022 and $375,281 in his career.

Kevin Cummings completed the evening with four wins while Monti had three and McDonough a pair. Trainer Gerry Sarama posted four training victories.

Racing will resume on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. with a 10-race program scheduled. For more information, including the latest news, upcoming promotions, entries, and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.