Photo: Down On My Luck with driver Drew Monti.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
The formidable team of owner Robert Woodburn, trainer Patrick Shepherd and driver Drew Monti struck again in prime time to win both feature races on Saturday night (Nov. 2) at Batavia Downs.
In the $12,500 Open I Handicap pace, Down On My Luck scored his sixth win in only eight starts at Batavia Downs this year after he made a second-over move past the half, took over the lead from the front-running Howmac Dancer (Ray Fisher Jr.) at the top of the stretch and then held off a late rush by Tullow N (John Cummings Jr.) to win by a nose in 1:55.3.
It was the 10th win overall this year for Down On My Luck ($3.50) who now has $63,492 on the card in 2019.
Then in the $11,000 Open II Handicap pace, Sir Pugsley left from his assigned seven post and dropped in third by the quarter. But he was out and rolling early moving up to second by the half, taking over the lead from China Dream (Billy Davis Jr.) at the three-quarters and then clearing and pulling away down the lane to win by a wrapped-up 3-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3.
It was the sixth win of the year for Sir Pugsley ($3.00) and pushed his bank to $81,020.
Monti ended up the leading driver on the night, scoring a total of four wins and three seconds during the card. Besides Down On My Luck and Sir Pugsley, Monti also won with In Runaway Bay N (1:55.3, $8.10) and Brunello N (1:55.1, $3.60).
Billy Davis Jr. also finished the night strong getting a natural hat trick in the final three races.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 6) with post time at 5 o'clock.
