After a heartbreaking loss by a neck last week, Crazy Ritz recovered nicely from that disappointment and posted a length victory over Power And Grace in Buffalo Raceway's featured $19,178 Open Trot on Saturday evening, July 6.
Crazy Ritz ($3.80) was able to turn the tables on Power And Grace this time around by registering a season's best 1:57.1 over the fast track. Playing the give and go with R Royal Port (Jim Morrill Jr.), Crazy Ritz kicked out fractions of :29.2, :59.1 and 1:28.2. Turning for home, though, things got very interesting.
Crazy Ritz turned first toward the wire with R Royal Port pulling the pocket. After looking to be a major danger, R Royal Port severely drifted out and Crazy Ritz was home free. Power And Grace (Drew Monti) was able to close ground to secure second place, with Arrakis (Joseph Chindano Jr.) finishing in third.
Owned by James Palladino and trained by Jim McNeight, Crazy Ritz (Crazy Wow-Bobblesnritz) has now won three times in 12 starts in 2024. The victory pushed the four-year-old trotter's seasonal winnings to $54,137 and lifetime bankroll to $143,144.
In the $16,712 Open II Pace, Handsoffmytitos looked like a sure winner midway down the homestretch, but someone forgot to tell Scribblers ($5.30). Using a vicious, never-say-die rally, Scribblers (Kyle Swift) stunned Handsoffmytitos (Morrill Jr.) in the shadow of the wire and snatched a half-length decision in 1:53.4. Blazing Light (Kevin Cummings) took the show spot.
Owned by Barry Charles and trained by Christopher Petrelli, the four-year-old Scribblers (Sportswriter-Gypsy Fantasy) has won seven of 22 seasonal starts and produced $68,715 this year and $130,947 in his career.
After winning the Class A trot last week by a half length in 1:57.4, Good Boy ($6.10) stepped up to the $16,712 Open II level and it turned out to be deja vu for him.
In an instant replay from seven days ago, Good Boy started from the two-hole and charged hard down the lane to collect the victory in a seasonal best of 1:57.3. Biscoe (James McNeight Jr.) finished three-quarters of a length back, with Curry Hanover (David McNeight III) taking third.
The win was third of the campaign in 16 starts for the six-year-old Good Boy (Lous Legacy-Gias Speedster), who is owned by Mary Warriner and trained by Ryan Swift. The victory increased his bankroll to $42,795 in 2024 and $167,718 in his career.
Racing will resume on Wednesday, July 10 at 2:30 p.m. with 13 races scheduled. There's a pair of $52,500 USD divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for the two-year-old colts and geldings pacers along with three races in the Excelsior Series.
(Buffalo Raceway)