Press release:
A patient drive by Kyle Cummings paid big dividends for owner//trainer Lee Dahn after Silver Arrow roared down the lane to an upset victory off a perfect trip at 16-1 in the $12,300 Open I Handicap pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 4).
Sunfirewindrain (Jim McNeight Jr.) was in his favorite spot -- on the point -- and stepped off solid fractions of :27.2 and :56.2 while Catch A Lefty A (Mike Baumeister), SIlver Arrow and the rest of the field stayed single file behind. As they headed by the five-eighths, Thor De Vie (Kevin Cummings) made a first-up move and tried to advance to the front.But when the third quarter went :28 flat, Thor De Vie stalled and Sunfirewindrain opened up two heading into the last turn.
Sunfirewindrain looked strong heading around the turn but things were about to change. Catch A Lefty A left the pocket, allowing Silver Arrow to slide up the pylons. These two horses now flanked Sunfirewindrain and he was really starting to feel the heat. With all three drivers fully animated as they headed for home, the three horses paced hard side by side all the way down the lane. They hit the wire in a photo with a mere nose separating all three with Silver Arrow getting the nod with a 1:54.1, season’s best victory.
It was the first Batavia Downs win of the year for Silver Arrow ($34.80) and fourth overall this year.
The undercard provided another good payoff. After not having raced in over a month and starting tonight fresh off a qualifier, Endeavors Pride dropped one class and popped at 7-1 to upset in the $11,000 Open II pace.
Major Asset (Jim Morrill Jr.) took command by the quarter and set a moderate pace of :57.1 to the half. In the third bend, Santana Beach (Drew Monti) pulled first-up from fifth and Endeavors Pride (Kevin Cummings) was right on his back. The outer flow caught the leader by three-quarters and just before coming out of the turn, Cummings pulled Endeavors Pride and blew right to the front and paced away to victory in 1:54.2.
Endeavors Pride ($16.20) picked up his fifth win of the year for owner Mike Torcello and trainer Gerry Sarama.
Kevin Cummings, Sarama and Torcello also won with Ginger Tree Lerue (1:56.3, $7.10) and B’s Yankee (1:55.3, $4.00) for the triple to lead in all categories for wins on Saturday.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Labor Day Monday (Sept. 6) with a special matinee post time of 1:15 p.m. Please note that there will be a carryover pool of $2,403 available on Labor Day in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 in race eight.
