By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
After destroying the field by nine-lengths in a lower conditioned start at the Downs last week, CR Blazin Beauty moved up to the $11,000 Open II and left the field chasing her once again as she won by open lengths in track record time at Batavia Downs.
The players and the script were the same; driver John Cummings Jr. left hard and put CR Blazin Beauty on the point and did whatever they felt from there. After stopping the timer in :28, :58.2 and 1:27.3, CR Blazin Beauty opened up three-lengths at the head of the stretch and extended it to 5-¾ lengths at the wire where she won her second straight in 1:56.1.
The time tied the track record for aged trotting mares set by Chelsea’s Chance in 2018.
CR Blazin Beauty ($4) pushed her earnings to $53,895 on the strength of her fifth win of the year. The 5-year-old daughter of Crazed-Melrose Abbey is owned by Marissa Russo and is trained by David Russo.
Despite being a record-tying race, it wasn’t even the feature.
The $12,500 Open I trot was won by Fox Valley Veto (Billy Davis Jr.) who sat fifth while Osprey Vision (John Cummings Jr.) and Kahoku (Pat Galbraith) were battling on the front in a suicide mission to the half in :57.1. Davis pulled Fox Valley Veto at that point, tracked the leaders to the three-quarters and then pulled three-deep into the final turn. There he cleared and opened up two-lengths at the top of the stretch before holding off a fast closing Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) at the wire to win in 1:56.4.
It was the eighth win of the year for Noble Legend ($9.40) who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags Stable and Jack Rice. Maria Rice trains the winner.
Billy Davis Jr. was red hot on Friday, winning four races on the card. He had his picture taken with Mr. Perseverance (1:56.2, $3.20), the aforementioned Fox Valley Veto, OK Galahad (1:55.3, $3.30) and Noble Legend (1:58.3, $4.50).
Dave McNeight III had a good night as well scoring a driving hat trick during the proceedings.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on tonight (Aug. 31) with post time for the first race at 6 o'clock.
