Driver Drew Monti with Focus Power.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
Drew Monti has become “Mr. Saturday Night” by winning five of the 10 races on the card at Batavia Downs for the second week in a row. Among his plethora of prizewinners this Saturday (Aug. 25) was Focus Power, who made a statement in his return after a six-week layoff in the $10,500 Open Handicap pace.
Buggati (Billy Davis Jr.) was the fastest off the gate and got to the front ahead of the pylon-starting Focus Power by the eighth pole. The pack followed the leader in single file to the quarter in :27 and past the half in :55.4. The top two continued unchallenged from behind to the three-quarters and it was obvious at that point that it would be a two-horse race to the wire from there.
Davis rolled Buggati into the far turn with Focus Power doubled-up with pace on his back, waiting to get the call from Monti. That came at the apex of the final bend when he popped the deuce, broken headpole and all, and found a new gear immediately. Focus Power switched into glide and blew right past Buggati at the head of the lane and paced away under no urging whatsoever to a wrapped-up win in 1:53.1, which tied his seasonal mark.
It was the fourth win in only 12 starts this year for Focus Power ($8.10) and it pushed his bank to $35,091 for owner James Caradori. Darrin Monti trains the winner.
Monti’s other four driving wins came with R M Hawk (1:54.3, $4.90), Littlebitaclass (1:55, $4.80), Linkjack Hanover (1:53.4, $2.60) and Foreign Officer (1:55, $2.40). All four of these horses are trained by JD Perrin who led all conditioners for wins on the card.
And not to be overlooked; another driver/trainer pair who had a big night Saturday was Shawn Gray and James Clouser Jr. who teamed up to send three winners for pictures. One of those was Tyler ($6.80) who took the garden spot tour before tipping off the last turn to win the $9,000 Open II in 1:55.3, last half in a fast :55.3. Tyler won his seventh race of the year for owner William Emmons.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 26) with post time at 1:15. Sunday is Family Fun Day and features the annual Wiener Dog Races, which begin at the conclusion of the last live harness race (approximately 4 p.m.)
