E Street on ‘easy street’ at Buffalo Raceway

HAMBURG, N.Y. — E Street (Conway Hall-Highway Cash) was on ‘easy street’ in Buffalo Raceway’s $12,200 Open II Trot on Saturday night (June 1) as he bounced to a half a length harness racing victory over Topolino in 1:58.3 over the fast track.

In the co-featured $12,200 Open II Pace, Handsoffmytitos got a perfect pocket journey from driver Jim Morrill Jr. and beat the pace setting Villiam by a length in a seasonal best 1:54.1.

E Street ($9.10) was involved in a three-way skirmish for the early edge with Topolino and All About Thechase. When things sorted themselves out, E Street found himself on the lead and put-up fractions of :29.0, :59.2 and 1:28.4.

A wall of horses began to assemble behind E Street (John Cummings Jr.) hitting the final turn as Topolino (Jim Morrill Jr.) and Valentine Express (Drew Monti) were all in striking distance. But E Street held his ground down the lane and managed to hold back the charges of Topolino and Valentine Express who finished second and third respectively.

Owned by Tarja Butcher and conditioned by Rachelle Mungillo, the 6-year-old gelded E Street (Conway Hall-Highway Cash) has four victories in 13 tries. The win upped his seasonal earnings to $33,480 and $159,720 lifetime.

In the co-main event, Handsoffmytitos (American Ideal-Sage N) played hardball early with Villiam, parking him for nearly a quarter mile and that may have taken just enough starch out of him in the long run.

With Villiam (Joseph Chindano Jr.) finally getting the lead, he set the tempo with splits of :28.3, :57.0 and 1:25.4. With Handsoffmytitos drafting along nicely in second, Morrill Jr. perfectly pulled the pocket around the final turn and took dead aim on Villiam.

Handsoffmytitos found Villiam to be a tough customer in the stretch and finally was able to take over to notch the victory. Trente Deo rallied for the show spot.

Owned by Michael Torcello and trained by Sam Smith, it was the fourth win in 15 appearances this year for the 5-year-old gelded Handsoffmytitos. The victory improved his 2024 bankroll to $35,610 and $100,933 in his career.

The third leg of the Spring Up Series for pacers that were non-winners of $15,000 (fillies and mares $18,000) and had at least 10 starts as of May 13 were contested.

Egomania took his third straight victory in the Series as he trounced Bet On Blake by five lengths in 1:54.1. Driven by Kevin Cummings, Egomania returned $2.60 in the easy victory. In the second division, A Game Changer (Drew Monti) nipped stablemate Smart Talker by a head in 1:56.3. The win returned $3.70 to his faithful followers.

There’s a big 15-race card set on Wednesday afternoon starting at 2:30 p.m. The New York Sire Stakes makes its first appearance of the 2024 campaign as a pair of $57,500 (approx.) events for the 3-year-old colts and gelding pacers will be contested. There will also be three $20,000 races in the Excelsior Series along with two divisions of the Spring Up Series and the $14,000 Class A-Open Pace for the ladies.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway