Hamburg, NY — It was ladies day at Buffalo Raceway on Friday (April 5) as a pair of mares each took the co-featured $9,000 trotting events. Retha Babe ($8.60) and Muskingum ($4.60), both mares, used different tactics but got the same victorious results on the matinee program.

Retha Babe used a first over move and was able to grind out a neck victory in the co-feature at Buffalo Raceway. Barnstormer Images photo.

Retha Babe (Kyle Cummings) used a first over trip and was able to grind out a neck decision over Aint No Mojo in 2:01.1 over the fast track while Muskingum went gate to wire to subdue Poets N Pirates in a snappy 1:58.2.

In the opening co-main event, Silver Buckeye and HP Maestro each battled it out for supremacy to the opening panel. Silver Buckeye eventually took the lead and posted fractions of :30.0, 1:01.0 and 1:31.1.

Retha Babe began her long brush up the backstretch the final time and got on even terms with Silver Buckeye. But down the lane, Retha Babe was able to wear down Silver Buckeye (Jim Morrill Jr.) and hold off a late charge from Aint No Mojo (David McNeight III),

Co-owned by trainer Tammy Cummings and Kyle Cummings, it was the first victory of 2024 for the 5-year-old mare Retha Babe (Muscle Massive-Redeposit). The win jumped her earnings to $9,350 on the season and $76,897 lifetime.

There was little suspense in the second feature as Muskingum (Joseph Chindano Jr.) had little pressure to scoot away from the field.

In the early going, Muskingum had to deal with the slightly favored Caviar’s Yankee but things changed quickly. Approaching the quarter mile marker, Caviar’s Yankee jumped off stride and gave Muskingum an uncontested lead.

Muskingum beat Poets N Pirates by 1-3/4 in the second feature today at Buffalo Raceway. Barnstormer Images photo.

From there, after fractions of :28.3, :58.1 and 1:28.1, Muskingum was solid in the home stretch and dialed it down in beating Poets N Pirates by 1-3/4 lengths while Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) was third.

Owned by Fox Racing Inc. and trained by Maggie Chindano, it was the second trip to the winner’s circle this year for the 7-year-old Muskingum (Triumphant Caviar-Abbey Craig). She has now bankrolled $8,920 on the campaign and $230,029 in her career.

Kevin Cummings and Kyle Cummings each had three victories on the card while Chindano Jr. had a double. Tammy Cummings notched two training wins.

Mae Smith got her first lifetime training victory on Friday afternoon as she conditioned Pepin Coolie ($7.60) to the win in the seventh race.

Racing will continue on Saturday (April 6) evening at 6:00 p.m. with a 13-race program on tap. There’s an $892 carryover in the Pick-5 which begins in the second race.

For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, entries, results and race replays, go to www.buffaloraceway.com