Unexpected late charge takes Buffalo Open

HAMBURG, N.Y. — The closers were coming late but it was the unexpected charge from E Street (Conway Hall) in the stretch that got the $20.00 upset harness racing victory in the $16,500 Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday afternoon (June 25).

The usual cast of characters in the Open Trot did their normal routine as the speedy Cr Blazin Beauty went out early and set the tempo with fractions of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:27.4. The closers Mugshots Bro and Lougazi were ready to pounce on the pacesetter in the stretch and did so, but they forgot about the pocket sitting E Street.

Zooming down the passing lane, E Street (Jim McNeight Jr.) was quickest of all and pulled away from the field near the wire and pinned a length loss on Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) and Mugshots Bro (Jim Morrill Jr.). E Street completed the mile in a seasonal best 1:57.2.

Co-owned by Margaret Butler and Amy Butler and trained by Jim McNeight, the 4-year-old E Street has now produced three wins in seven starts this season. The victory jacked up his earnings to $19,820 on the campaign and $56,790 lifetime.

In the $12,400 Open II Trot, Castyourcrown (Dontyouforgetit-Future Cast) drafted along perfectly until deep stretch and managed to sneak by the tempo-setting Photo Bomber by a neck to collect the popular $2.80 victory in 1:58.2.

Photo Bomber (Kevin Cummings) was able to gain the lead off the starting gate and post sensible splits of :30.1, 1:00.2 and 1:30.0. But Castyourcrown  and Morrill Jr. just bided their time and slowly but surely inched on by in the shadow of the wire. Sanchez Rocks (Shawn McDonough) grabbed third place honors.

Co-owned by Blake Daniels and Never Give Up Racing, the 4-year-old gelded Castyourcrown is trained by Michael Deruntz. The win upped his seasonal earnings to $49,900 and $130,400 lifetime.

Kyle Cummings posted a triple while Morrill Jr. and Kevin Cummings each notched driving doubles on the program.

Racing will continue on Sunday afternoon with a 10-race program set for 1:30 p.m. There’s a $500 carryover in the Pick 5 which begins in the second race. Buffalo Raceway will also revert back to its Wednesday, Friday, Saturday schedule this week with post times each day at 1:30 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway