It was double trouble for Do Mischief ($2.40) and Venier Hanover ($2.20) on Friday afternoon, May 22 in Buffalo Raceway's featured $14,932 conditioned optional claiming pace as the pair finished in a dead heat for the victory while third-place finisher Kid From The Bronx was just a nose behind in the fantastic photo finish.

Venier Hanover and Drew Monti were able to show the way through the opening half-mile with fractions of :29 and :58.1 over the fast track. But the action picked up on the second circuit as Do Mischief and Brett MacDonald began a first-over journey while Kid From The Bronx and David McNeight III still were enjoying the pocket view.

With a 1:26.3 third quarter time clicked off, it was time for the real race to begin in earnest down the long Buffalo Raceway stretch. Venier Hanover kept showing the way while Do Mischief attacked from the outside and Kid From The Bronx down the passing lane. All three appeared to hit the wire in 1:55 together in what may have been the best finish of the 2026 campaign at the Hamburg, New York half-mile oval but the photo showed Venier Hanover and Do Mischief deadlocked at the line with Kid From The Bronx just a slim nose behind.

Venier Hanover (Well Said-Valmctorian) is owned and trained by Sheena Cohen of Amherst, New York. The 11-year-old gelding secured his second win of the season in eight starts and his 65th career victory.

Do Mischief (Sweet Lou-Somesleazetoplease) was acquired earlier this month by Caeleo Enterprises of Eden, New York and Brad Conschafter of Elma, New York. Trained by David Russo, the five-year-old Sweet Lou-Somesleazetoplease gelding has won two of his four starts for his current connections and has four victories overall this year and a total of 16 lifetime.

In the matching trotting events, Freds Dream Girl and trainer/driver Cory Kreiser posted a $28.94 upset with a half-length nod over favoured Beacon Beach in 1:58.3. In the other bracket, the Kreiser-trained favourite Mass Market ($4.94) prevailed from the pocket over pacesetter Classic Sunny by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:59 with MacDonald at the helm.

MacDonald finished the 12-race program with five wins, also scoring with the Russo-trained Speed Club ($3.28) and Kreiser-conditioned Snouze U Louze ($3.54) in addition to Firstofanera ($3.72), a pacing mare he co-owns and his father Ron trains. 

Racing will continue at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with a 13-race program.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)