Photo of Blue Bell Bonnie with driver Dave McNeight III.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
Rain driven by 50 mile-per-hour winds that blew right down the stretch made racing conditions less than desirable on Wednesday evening (Nov. 27) but it didn’t bother Blue Bell Bonnie who displayed intestinal fortitude while cutting the mile to victory in the $12,500 Open I Handicap for fillies and mares at Batavia Downs.
Driver Dave McNeight III took command from post two when the gate released the girls and was never headed from there. After cutting fractions of :29.4, 1:01.2 and 1:31.2, Blue Bell Bonnie scooted around the last turn and took her one-length advantage all the way to the wire where she won in 2:00.2.
It was the ninth win of the year for Blue Bell Bonnie ($8.30) who has now made $68,383 for owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. James Clouser Jr. trains the mare.
The inclement weather stifled chalk bettors in two races as longshots blew up the tote board starting in race one where Playin The Ponies (Denny Bucceri) rallied late at 45-1 to win by a length and pay $92.50. The win also generated a 7-1-5 trifecta that paid $4,776.
Then in the fifth race, Better To Be Lucky (Renaldo Morales III) came from off the pace as well to win at 56-1 and return $114.50. The 8-6 exacta paid $764, 8-6-7 trifecta paid $3,528 and the 8-6-7-ALL superfecta returned $5,726.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Nov. 29) with post time at 6 p.m. Also please note that there is a $930 carry-over for the Pick-5 wager that starts in race one.
