By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
Logazi was true to form on Friday night (Oct. 11) by getting away slow before and then closing fast to win the $12,500 Open Handicap trot at Batavia Downs.
Rose Run Speedster (Jim Morrill Jr.) cut the mile from post one, getting to the half unpressured in a slow :59.1. BJ Larado (Shawn McDonough) pulled first over in front of the stands with Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) following loosely behind by a gapped two-lengths.
Positions remained unchanged up the backstretch to the three-quarters and around the far turn, but as they hit the top of the stretch Rose Run Speedster made a break and Lougazi was rolling three-deep around BJ Lorado. The race was now between only two horses and BJ Lorado and Lougazi rocked and rolled side by side all the way down the lane until Lougazi gained the slightest advantage and won by a nose in 1:57.3.
Scoring his eighth win of the season, Lougazi ($5.40) pushed his earnings to $81,625 for owner Mary Warriner. Ryan Swift trains the winner.
The Fisher/Swift team was red hot on Friday, getting a natural Hat Trick in races five, six and seven. Prior to winning with Lougazi, they also scored with Barn Winner (1:58.1, $4.50) and Rock The Dream (1:56, $2.40).
In the $11,000 Open II trot, Call My Broker (Mike Caprio) was overlooked by the bettors but took full advantage of post one by going right to the front and to lead at every station en route to registering a 1-¾ length win in a new seasonal best 1:57.3. Grabbing his fifth win of the year, Call My Broker ($20.20) is owned by Franklin Meier and is trained by Angelo Nappo.
Jim Morrill Jr. and Billy Davis Jr. joined Ray Fisher Jr. as top winning drivers as they also scored three wins on the night.
There was no winner in the Pick-5 wager on Friday and as a result, there will be a $2,527.75 carryover and a $6,000 guaranteed pool for the Pick-5 on Saturday. The pool will be part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages for races one through five will be available on the USTA website starting Saturday morning.
Post time at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Oct. 12) is 6 p.m.
