Makes Me Charlie ($15.40) saved plenty of ground during Buffalo Raceway's $21,622 Open Trot on Friday afternoon, June 20 and that journey paid big dividends in the end as he topped Wolinak and favourite El Toto Loco in 1:58 over the fast track.
As El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) led through fractions of :29.4, :59.3 and 1:28.4, Makes Me Charlie and James McNeight Jr. were content in skimming the pylons in sixth place. But once reaching the three-quarter marker, McNeight Jr. started to roll with the ground-saving Makes Me Charlie.
El Toro Loco turned for home on the lead but things started to fall apart for him down the stretch. The first-over Wolinak (John Cummings Jr.) started to cut into that lead but Makes Me Charlie in the meantime gobbled up major real estate in the passing lane and roared home for the victory by 1-1/2 lengths. A final panel of :28.2 for Makes Me Charlie sealed the victory. Wolinak did hold on for second place with the favoured El Toro Loco finishing in third.
Co-owned by trainer Margaret Butler and Amy Butler, Makes Me Charlie scored his first victory of the season after three previous outings. Now 17-for-33 in his career, the five-year-old Mets Hall-Makes Me Crazy gelding has earned more than $95,000.
Jim Morrill Jr. had four victories on the card with Kyle Cummings and McNeight Jr. each collecting a pair.
Racing will continue on Saturday, June 21 at 1:30 p.m. with a 12-race program.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)