It might seem a little early in the season for track records but the date on the calendar didn't phase Crazy Ritz ($4.58) one bit as he broke the Buffalo Raceway track record for aged stallion trotters on Saturday, April 4. 

Now a winner of two straight Opens, Crazy Ritz and driver James McNeight Jr. scored a half length victory over Dealin With Dewey in the $21,528 Open Trot with a clocking of 1:56.1. The mile time eclipsed the long standing record of 1:56.3 established on June 17, 2016 by Strong Hope.

Beacon Beach (Ray Fisher Jr.) took the early lead in the Open and brought along Famous Dan (David McNeight) and Crazy Ritz through opening splits of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:26.3.

Crazy Ritz was first to pull and gobbled up ground down the stretch. Things got a little dicey toward the wire as Dealin With Dewey (Brett MacDonald) was charging like a freight train on the outside but came up just a half length short to Crazy Ritz. Beacon Beach held on for the show position.

Owned by James Palladino of Lockport, N.Y. and conditioned Jeff Martin, six-year-old Crazy Ritz (Crazy Wow-Bubblesnritz) scored his second victory of the season. The win moved his 2026 bankroll to $33,206 and to $328,332 lifetime.

In the co-featured event, Livonjaxandqueens ($20.62) had the winning hand in Buffalo Raceway's $21,528 Open Pace with a solid 2-1/2 length victory over Venier Hanover in 1:54.3 over the fast track.

Davey Day Trader (David McNeight) wanted to set the fractions in the early going, showing the way with splits of :27.4 and :58.1. Livonjaxandqueens (Denny Bucceri) was relaxed and waited to get the signal to get the first over trip down the backstretch. He got on even terms with Davey Day Trader as the pair hit the three quarter marker in 1:26.1.

Down the stretch, Davey Day Trader began to labour somewhat but Livonjaxandqueens stayed strong and rolled on to the victory. Venier Hanover (Greg Merton) rallied for second place honours with post time favourite All Bets On Tex (Brett MacDonald) in the show spot.

Now a 25-time winner, Livonjaxandqueens (American Ideal-Its De Lovely) is trained by Jim Rothfuss for owner/breeder Howard Ouriel of Rochester, N.Y.  The win took the six-year-old's seasonal earnings to $11,826 and to $325,343 lifetime.

Greg Merton and MacDonald each completed the card with a pair of victories. The double capped a great week for MacDonald as he finished with 10 victories during the three-day stretch.

Racing will continue on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with an 11-race program scheduled. With the Pick 5 not being hit for the second consecutive card on Saturday, there will be a guaranteed pool of $15,000 in the Pick 5 on Wednesday which begins in the second race.

(with files from Buffalo)