Photo of Kaitlyn Rae with driver Ray Fisher Jr.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
It was a big night for Ray Fisher Jr. at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Oct. 12) as he won four races including both feature races.
First in the $10,400 fillies and mares Open Handicap pace, Fisher sent Kaitlyn Rae off the wings and right to the front where she dominated her rivals all the way. With an open two-length lead, Kaitlyn Rae set fractions of :27.4, :58 and 1:26.1 before rounding the far turn and skating away to a six-length win in 1:54.3.
It was the 59th career victory and 11th win of the year for Kaitlyn Rae ($21.60) who is owned and trained by Riley Asher-Stalbaum.
Photo above of driver Ray Fisher Jr. with Lougazi.
Then one race later in the $11,500 Open Handicap trot, Fisher took Lougazi off the gate and settled in second to the quarter before pulling at the three-eighths pole to take the lead past the half. From there he called the shots as he got to the three-quarters in 1:27.4 and then trotted home sharply while holding off a late challenge from Empire Earl N (Jim Morrill Jr.) to win by a length in 1:57.2.
Owner Mary Warriner enjoyed watching Lougazi ($7.80) get his seventh win of the year under the tutelage of Fisher’s wife, Ryan Swift.
Fisher also won with Susie’s Delight (1:55.2, $4.10) and Bands Ariston (1:59.3, $9.60) to round out the Grand Slam. Both of these horses are trained by Swift as well giving her the hat trick.
Fisher is currently fourth in the standings for wins on the meet with 45 behind the leading Drew Monti who has 74, Kevin Cummings with 67 and Billy Davis Jr. with 54.
Please note that when racing resumes at Batavia Downs on this afternoon (Oct. 13) it will do so with a very early post time of 4:15.
