Jettison may have lost the battles, but he ended up winning the war.

After losing narrowly to Dedalos twice in the past three weeks, Ontario-sired Jettison turned the tables when it counted the most and captured the $24,500 final of the Niatross Knockout Claiming ‘B’ Series at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (April 25).

It was the big closing kick that sent Jettison to the victory. After drawing the seven post, Jettison sat contently seventh to the half-mile marker as Secluded Island set scorching fractions of :27.4 and :56.4.

Following live cover to the three-quarter pole, driver John Cummings Jr. tipped Jettison ($6.00) three-wide and fanned four out at the top of the stretch. Using a :28.4 final panel, Jettison roared past Dedalos (Shawn Gray) to register the length victory in a seasonal-best time of 1:56 while K C Colt (Jim McNeight) scooted up the passing lane for third.

“We were in good position down the backstretch the second time,” Cummings Jr. said about the final half-mile of action. “We had a ton of momentum on the outside. I was worried about the horse in the passing lane [K C Colt],” he added.

It won’t be the last time Jettison and Dedalos, the Niatross Claiming Series ‘A’ Series winner, square off. The pair are both qualified for the $25,000 Invitational on Saturday, May 9. Also moving on from the ‘B’ Series will be K C Colt and Secluded Island. A wild card will also be selected since Dedalos earned two spots in the Invitational.

Owned by Curtis Edholm and the Ultra Racing Stable, Jettison (Jeremes Jet-Pizzacato), a six-year-old gelding, was trained by Darren Taneyhill. The victory was Jettison’s fifth from 14 starts in 2015 and moved his earnings to $28,310 and $154,420 lifetime.

In the $10,000 Niatross consolation event, trainer Alex Giuliani watched his tandem of Looks R Deceiving and Carson City Road finish first and second, respectively. Looks R Deceiving (Jack Flanigen) nipped stablemate Carson City Road by a neck in 1:57 while Wynsum Magic (McNeight) took the show position.

In the $9,500 conditioned pace, Jokerman ($7.90) got the lead and held on from there for a half-length triumph over the heavily favoured Cobble Beach in 1:55.

Shawn Gray had a driving triple on the program while Kevin Cummings, Cummings Jr., Drew Monti and Shawn McDonough all doubled.

(Standardbred Canada With files from Buffalo Raceway)