by Jonathan Cramer, for Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — Just days after Dave Palone drove 11 winners at The Meadows, Jim Morrill, Jr. took six straight to the winner’s circle at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday (April 23).

The middle of the card belonged to Morrill as he finished first in races 3–8. Morrill’s feat was one short of the record for consecutive wins at the Hamburg oval. Don Rothfuss had seven straight victories on February 4, 1994.

Harnessracephotos.com – Paul White

Jim Morrill, Jr. won six straight races on Wednesday at Buffalo.

In the third race Morrill led wire-to-wire with KB’s Ronnie, trained by Gerry Sarama for Mike Torcello, in 1:58.1. The fourth race saw Morrill pilot Speed Pilot from the seventh post position to a neck victory over Iroquindianbrave.

Morrill got his hat trick in the fifth race when he guided Luckaway in the evening’s fastest mile of 1:57.3 for owner and trainer Carl Monti. In the sixth race Morrill made every pole a winning one with Gemini Justin for Burke Trails Stable and trainer Jerry Nugent, Jr.

After leading wire-to-wire in the previous two races, Morrill came from the back of the field in the seventh race to put Barricade Hanover in the winner’s circle for trainer Bobbi Jo Martin and Cookie N Mo Stables. In the eighth race Morrill led wire-to-wire again with Platinum Dreams for owner and trainer Steven Weaver.

With a chance to tie the Buffalo Raceway record for most consecutive wins, Morrill was aboard Longevity. They were defeated down the stretch by Cam’s Best Line and Keith Kash, Jr. in the ninth race.

He concluded the 12-race card with another victory aboard Drop Zone, for the El Lobo Stables and trainer Bobbi Jo Martin.

With the streak by Morrill, Buffalo Raceway’s $5,000 Pick 7 in races 4–10 saw Morrill win the first five legs and Keith Kash, Jr. win the final two. Several tickets had six of seven, but no one correctly selected seven of seven to claim the $5,000 guaranteed pool.

Racing will resume on Friday, April 25. First post time is 6:30 pm.

Don’t forget that Saturday, April 26, is hat giveaway night. Any patron with an Inside Track voucher will receive a beautiful embroidered Buffalo Raceway hat!

Sunday racing starts on April 27, with first post scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Buffalo Raceway offers live harness racing Friday and Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night start time is 5:00 p.m., and Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Simulcast action is also available each Wednesday thru Sunday, from America’s top racetracks.