Spring Pop-Up Series final won in a sweep

HAMBURG, N.Y. — In the $25,000 Spring Up Series finale for harness racing pacers at Buffalo Raceway who were non-winners of $15,000 and had 10 starts before May 16, Egomania (Always A Virgin-Has An Attitude) made it a perfect 4-for-4 in the event Saturday (June 8) with another gate-to-wire victory. He covered the mile in 1:56.3 and toppled Smart Talker by a length.

Egomania, after posting three front running scores in the Spring Up Series qualifiers, didn’t change tactics this time around and the results were the same, a victory.

After a brief tussle with Louie The Lilac in the early going, a stubborn Egomania (Kevin Cummings) was relentless in getting the lead. With splits of :27.0, :56.2 and 1:25.4 on the board, Egomania was ready for the final charge.

Smart Talker (David McNeight III) and Louie The Lilac (Jim Morrill Jr.) made mild bids in the lane but they were no match for Egomania.

Owned by Antony Barone and trained by David Russo, Egomania has now produced $44,655 on the campaign and $413,341 lifetime. He paid $2,30 to win.

Crazy Ritz (Crazy Wow-Bubblesnnitz) has suffered disappointment the past four weeks with three second place finishes and a third. But he erased those heartaches on Saturday evening with a gutsy half-length victory over E Street in 1:57.2 in the $14,000 Open Trot.

The Open Trot saw a major battle early for the lead as four sidewinders 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 panel.

With Power And Grace calling it a night, Gracious Triumph braced herself for the closers and boy were they coming. 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 4-year-old Crazy Ritz has won twice in eight starts in 2024. The win pushed his seasonal bankroll to $28,460 and $117,467 in his career. He paid $4.50 to win.

Racing will continue on Wednesday afternoon with a 13-race card scheduled for 2:30 p.m. There is an $889 carryover. The New York Sire Stakes returns once again with a $117,700 race set for the 3-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 Excelsior Series events as well.

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 by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway