El Toro Loco loves it at Buffalo

HAMBURG, N.Y. — One thing is for certain, El Toro Loco (Walner) sure does love Buffalo Raceway.

For the third time in as many tries this harness racing season, El Toro Loco ($6.60) found his way to the winner’s circle in the $14,500 Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway with a narrow neck win over Big Baller Beane in 1:59.4 over the good track on Friday afternoon (April 11).

Alternating between starts at Northfield Park and Buffalo Raceway since early March, El Toro Loco has found little success in Ohio but when shuffling back to Western New York, he’s been nothing but brilliant.

This week, El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) was able to grab the lead from the six post, registering fractions of :30.2 and 1:01.1. His cause was helped as My One Percent and Platinum Proposal broke stride, thus reducing the competitive field to just five.

El Toro Loco stayed attentive the second half as Big Ball Beane and Double Class tried to stay involved after a three quarter mark of 1:30.3.

But there were a few anxious moments down the stretch as El Toro Loco had to hold off late bids from Big Baller Beane (Dan Yetman) and Dougadougadew (Kyle Cummings) who finished in second and third respectively.

Co-owned by El Dorado Stables and Michael Torcello, it was the fifth victory in 10 starts on the season for the 6-year-old El Toro Loco (Walner-Southwind Cabaret). The win upped his 2025 bankroll to $35,520 and to $261,285 in his career.

Crazy Ritz ($6.70) showed the way the entire mile in the $12,500 sub-featured trot but had to hold off a pesky Newsboy to claim a half length victory in 1:59.3.

Shooting off the car from the start, Crazy Ritz (James McNeight Jr.) had no resistance in reaching the top in :29.4. With Newsboy tracking in second through a half in 1:00.0, Rodeo Hill was starting a first over trip down the backstretch the final time, but broke stride, basically eliminating everyone who was following along.

This just left Crazy Ritz and Newsboy to battle it out down the lane. In the stretch, Crazy Ritz never wavered as Newsboy (Drew Monti) tried in vain to catch the leader but fell short in his effort. Poets N Pirates (Dan Yetman) took third place in the scrum for minor honors.

Owned by James Palladino and trained by Jim McNeight, it was the first victory of the season for the 6-year-old Crazy Ritz (Crazy Wow-Bubblesnritz). The win increased  his 2025 total to $8,485 and to $164,047 lifetime.

VJ Panderosa (Monti) stunned the field in the sixth race, returning $161.00, capping a $8,756 payoff in the final leg of the Pick 5.

Monti finished the afternoon with a driving triple.

Racing will resume on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with a 10-race program scheduled.

For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, entries, results and race replays, go to www.buffaloraceway.com

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway