After a month of coming up short, Crazy Ritz finally came through with a big victory in the $19,178 Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday evening (June 8).
Crazy Ritz ($4.50) had suffered disappointment over the past four weeks with three second-place finishes and a third. But he erased those heartaches with a gutsy half-length victory over E Street in 1:57.2.
The Open Trot saw a major battle early as the leaders went four-wide to see who could grab control. When the dust settled, Gracious Triumph was found on top and had to deal with Power And Grace on the outside. With fractions of :28.3, :57.1 and 1:27.2 in the books, the whole complexion of the race was about to change in the final quarter.
While Power And Grace called it a night, Gracious Triumph braced herself for a challenge from a bevvy of closers. Crazy Ritz (James McNeight Jr.) found racing room down the lightning lane and pushed to the lead. Meanwhile, E Street (Dan Yetman) and Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) were charging hard on the outside but came up just short.
Owned by James Palladino and conditioned by Jim McNeight, the four-year-old Crazy Ritz (Crazy Wow-Bubblesnnitz) has won twice in eight starts in 2024. The win pushed his seasonal bankroll to $38,897 and $157,302 in his career.
In the $34,247 Spring Up Series finale for pacers who were non-winners of $28,299 and had 10 starts before May 16, Egomania ($2.30) made it a perfect four-for-four in the event with another gate-to-wire victory. He covered the mile in 1:56.3 and toppled Smart Talker by a length.
After a brief tussle with Louie The Lilac in the early going, a stubborn Egomania (Kevin Cummings) was relentless in getting the lead. Posting splits of :27, :56.2 and 1:25.4, Egomania held off Smart Talker (David McNeight III) and Louie The Lilac (Jim Morrill Jr.) for the win.
Owned by Antony Barone and trained by David Russo, Egomania (Always A Virgin-Has An Attitude) has now produced $61,030 on the campaign and $429,966 lifetime.
Racing will continue on Wednesday afternoon with a 13-race card scheduled for 2:30 p.m. There is an $889 carryover in the Pick-5. The New York Sire Stakes returns once again with a $117,700 (U.S.) race set for the three-year-old filly trotters. The 2023 champion Peace Talks headlines the field which is slated for the seventh race. There are a trio of $20,000 (U.S.) Excelsior Series events as well.
(With files from Buffalo Raceway)