Crazy Ritz went the best mile of his season as he dominated a full field of eight in the Friday, Sept. 12 feature at Batavia Downs, a $15,417 mid-level conditioned trot.
Driver Jim McNeight Jr. sent Crazy Ritz forward and took the lead at the :28 quarter. From there, he stepped to the half in :58.1 before Starlitcresentroll (Dave McNeight III) blitzed from the outside and Blantons Blue (Kevin Cummings) continued to pursue from the pocket. This two-pronged attack stayed in place past three-quarters in 1:27 until the last turn where Crazy Ritz started to separate from the field and continued to do so as they spun into the stretch. There, Crazy Ritz bolted home on top by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:56.3, which was a new seasonal mark for the winner. Good Boy (Ray Fisher Jr.) finished second and Spicy Hops (John Cummings Jr.) was third.
Crazy Ritz is trained by Jeffrey Martin and owned by James Palladino of Lockport, New York. An Open class competitor throughout the year, the seven-year-old son of Crazy Wow-Bubblesnritz was the favourite and paid $3.92 to win. He now has three wins from 20 seasonal starts to go along with six seconds and two thirds.
Trainer Shawn McDonough has four winners on the 13-race card, including a sweep of the early Daily Double with Mingo Joel ($12.72) and Said N Done AS ($4.02). His first two winners were driven by Drew Monti, who had a four-win night of his own. McDonough's other winners were Technical Wow ($3.70) and Millies Spirit (1:57.4, $4.28), driven by Jim Morrill Jr. and Joseph Chindano Jr., respectively.
Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Sept. 13 with post time at 6 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs)