Kevin Cummings takes co-feature trot and pace

HAMBURG, N.Y. — Oh boy! That is what the harness racing fans had to be thinking in Buffalo Raceway’s $14,000 Open Trot on Saturday night (May 25) as Johnny Boy (Uncle Peter-Marjorie Hall) beat Good Boy by three quarters of a length in a seasonal best of 1:58.0 over the track labeled good.

In the $14,000 Open Pace, Better Take It (Bettor’s Delight) went gate to wire in 1:54.0 in collecting the three-quarter length victory over Davey Day Trader.

The decisions by Johnny Boy and Better Take It gave a sweep of the features to owner Michael Torcello, trainer Samuel Smith and driver Kevin Cummings. The tandem of Torcello and Smith ended the evening with three wins while Cummings had four victories in the sulky.

Johnny Boy found plenty of racing room in the lightning lane and held on late for the $12.60 surprise in the Open Trot.

Crazy Ritz (James McNeight Jr.) was the boss from the outset by trotting reasonable fractions of :30.0, :59.1 and 1:28.4. But things began to fall apart for him in the stretch.

A two-pronged attack on the inside by Johnny Boy (Kevin Cummings) and on the outside by Good Boy (Ray Fisher Jr.) spelled big trouble for Crazy Ritz. Johnny Boy was able to gain the lead in the passing lane but had to hold on in the shadow of the wire as Good Boy made a late bid but came up short. Crazy Ritz did manage to hold on for third.

For Johnny Boy, it was the second victory in 10 starts. The win lifted his 2024 earnings to $18,700 and $166,209 in his career.

With the field reduced to five with the scratch of Vel Mr Nice Guy, Better Take It ($6.60) did double duty in rolling to the Open Pace victory. Besides setting the splits of :28.0, :56.4 and 1:26.0, he hung Giveitatry out to dry and eliminated that contender.

With only four left in contention, Better Take It enjoyed a length edge turning for home and had more than enough in the tank to confidently hold back Davey Day Trader (McNeight Jr.) and the heavily favored Mach Le More A (John Cummings Jr.).

The second week of the Spring Up Series for the pacers who are non-winners of $15,000 (mares $18,000) and have at least 10 starts on the season as of May 13 were contested. A pair of David Russo trainees took both $12,500 divisions. Star Messenger (Dan Yetman) started things off with a popular $3.40 triumph in 1:56.1 while Egomania (Kevin Cummings) made it two straight in the series with a $3.10 nod in 1:55.1.

Jim Morrill Jr. had a driving triple while Joseph Chindano Jr. won two. Trainer Dakota Jackson registered two victories along with Russo.

Racing will continue on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with a 12-race card slated.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway