Different tactics win Buffalo co-features

HAMBURG, N.Y. — There were two different tactics used in the pair of Buffalo Raceway featured harness racing events on Saturday night (June 15). First in the $14,000 Open Pace, Mach Le More A (Mach Three) used a furious rally in deep stretch to shock Vel Mr Nice Guy by a head in 1:53.2 while in the $14,000 Open Trot, E Street (Conway Hall-Highway Cash)used a front-end trip to beat I Got The Looks 1-3/4 lengths in a seasonal best off 1:57.2.

The first feature saw Vel Mr Nice Guy (Joseph Chindano Jr.) burst to the lead and collected fractions of :28.0, :57.0 and 1:25.0. With a final panel to pace, it appeared the event was going to boil down to Vel Mr Nice Guy, Scribblers and Davey Day Trader. But someone forgot to tell Mach Le More A.

In what appeared to be a three-way battle midway down the lane, Mach Le More A (John Cummings Jr.) came flying on the outside and roared past a stunned Vel Mr Nice Guy while Scribblers (Jim Morrill Jr.) ended in third.

Co-owned by Marissa Russo and Fac Racing LLC and conditioned by David Russo, it was the fifth win in 20 appearances for the 9-year-old gelded Mach Le More A. The win upped his seasonal earnings to $47,705 and $308,607 in his lifetime.

While the Open Pace had a rousing finish, the Open Trot was far less dramatic. E Street ($4.90) fired right to the lead and posted splits of :29.0, :59.0 and 1:28.1.

Down the stretch, the sidewinders were lined up four wide ready to attack E Street (Morrill Jr.) but those attempts came up empty. I Got The Looks (Dan Yetman) won the second place battle with Crazy Ritz (James McNeight Jr.) rolling in for the show position.

Owned by Tarja Butcher and trained by Rachelle Mungillo, it was the fifth victory of the campaign for E Street. The win increased his bankroll to $43,980 on the year and $161,220 in his career.

Racing will return on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with a 13-race card set. The New York Sire Stakes is back in town once again with a pair of $51,000 (approx.) events set for the 2-year-old filly pacers. There will also be a trio of $20,000 races for the young ladies in the Excelsior Series along with the $14,000 Class A-Open Pace for the damsels.

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by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway