Photo: Tullow N out front with driver John Cummings Jr.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
Tullow N was all business when he went to the front and never looked back en route to winning the $12,500 Open I Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 7).
Driver John Cummings Jr. flew off the wings with Tullow N and had one thing in mind; going down the road. After Tullow N settled on the pylons he was immediately confronted by Sir Pugsley (Jim Morrill Jr.) who was also on the attack. Cummings never flinched and refused to give up the lead and as a result, the two horses paced side by side to the quarter in :27.2 and to the half in :54.4.
Heading up the backside on the second circuit, Tullow N was pacing strong on the point while Sir Pugsley succumbed to brutal trip. Tullow N opened up a two length lead by the three-quarters in 1:23.2 but saw Race Me Rocky (Shawn McDonough) pull from third to advance, the pocket-sitting Southwind Torque (Billy Davis Jr.) was getting closer and Some Attitude (Shawn Gray) joined the party at the top of the stretch.
Heading to the wire they were four across the track but Tullow N was not to be denied on this night and hung on by one-half length to win in 1:53.2.
It was the fourth score of the meet and sixth of the year for Tullow N ($7.20) who is owned by Blindswitch Racing and trained by Dave Russo.
In the $11,000 Open II pace, Rock To Glory (Shawn Gray) got away third and stayed there for a half before pulling first-over past the five-eighths pole to out-muscle the front-running Manceiver (Ray Fisher Jr.) down the lane and win by a length in 1:54.1.
It was the fourth win in the last five starts and the sixth of the year for Rock To Glory ($12.40) who is owned by Tessa Roland and trained by JD Perrin.
Shawn Gray and Billy Davis Jr. both had driving grand slams on the night while John Cummings Jr. scored a double.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Sept. 11) with a 5 p.m. post time.
