by Sam Pendolino, Publicity Director/Public Relations, Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — In Saturday’s featured eleventh race, an $8,000 Open Pace, E.A. Ruppert, R.H. Gruber, and W. Reardon’s Liebeck won for the second time this year. Having left from post one, driver Jim McNeight put the five-year-old Panderosa gelding on the lead and then set all the quarter-mile fractions in the race: 28.2, 58.1, 1:28.1 in what was a wire to wire nose victory over Michael Scores and driver Kevin Cummings, in a seasons best time of 1:56.3. Last weeks Open winner Invader Hall and driver Jim Morrill Jr. were just a neck behind in the show spot. Going off as the third choice in the betting, Liebeck paid $10.20 to win. The $4,000 share of the winning purse boosted Liebeck’s season bankroll to $14,393 and his lifetime earnings now stand at $59,784.

Jim Morrill Jr. wins one for the in-laws!

In race number six, a $7,300 Open II Pace, Buffalo Raceway’s leading driver Jim Morrill Jr. made it to the winner’s circle for the fifth time among his seven wins on Saturday night, when he steered Kripple Creek Stables Deal Me In Again, to victory, the seven-year-old On The Road Again geldings second win in 2006.

“This is the one I really wanted to win,” said Morrill Jr. “It was for my in-laws at the Kripple Creek Stables.”

The winning time of 1:57, establishes a new lifetime mark. Leaving from postposition one, Deal Me In Again set all the fractions in the race, 29.2, 59.3, and 1:28.3 to the three-quarter mark. Ken Holliday and Red Bullet were three-quarters of a length behind in second while Noble Temptations and reinsman Kevin Cummings came in third.

Accident mars seventh race

In race seven, an accident involving drivers Robert Lacki aboard Tess’s Treasure, and Keith Kash Jr. who was on Reign Of Fire, were both sent to the hospital Saturday night. Early reports were that both drivers had shoulder injuries. Both horses came out of the accident without any injuries.

Racing will resume on Wednesday April 5, starting at 6:35 p.m. (EST).

Fans may enjoy fine food and drinks while playing their favorite horses: call the clubhouse reservation Line at (716) 646-6109, ext. 60149 to reserve a table. An operator will be available on Monday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Buffalo will offer one dollar draft beer on Fridays in March, during live racing.

Meet the Driver Series at Buffalo Raceway

Racing fans at Buffalo Raceway will have the opportunity to meet the top drivers at the Hamburg Oval: each Friday in April, Buffalo Raceway will host the Meet the Driver Series, which will feature a question and answer period with drivers, starting at 5:30 p.m. (EDT), in the Clubhouse.

The schedule for April includes Jim Morrill, Jr. on April 7, Ken Holliday on April 14, Kevin Cummings on April 21, and will conclude on April 28, on which Keith Kash, Jr. will appear.

Morrill is currently the top driver at Buffalo Raceway, having won more than 44 percent of his starts. He has driven the winners of more than $260,000 and the meet, has won 88 races in just 196 local starts, and his Universal Driver Rating of .607 tops all North American drivers.

Holliday, who raced at Northfield Park last year, is currently second in local earnings, at over $114,000 in 160 starts.

Cummings has posted 20 wins and driven the winners of $94,675 at Buffalo, through March 28, and Kash is not far behind Cummings in terms of purses won, at $94,636.

Buffalo Raceway offers live harness racing every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, starting at 6:35 p.m., and simulcast action is also available each Wednesday thru Sunday, from America’s top racetracks.