Photo: Daylon Phantom with driver Renaldo Morales III.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
A pair of big come-from-behind performances were put forth by the winners of the featured trot and pace that highlighted the card at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening (Sept. 2).
In the $8,000 Open I-II Handicap trot, Daylon Phantom (Renaldo Morales III) tracked the leading Il Mago (Jim Morrill Jr.) from fifth to the half before following State Ofmyhead As (Ray Fisher Jr.) outside to the three-quarters where he tipped three-deep and from there, annihilated the field down the lane winning by 7-3/4 lengths in 1:57.4.
It was the third win of the year and a new seasonal mark for Daylon Phantom ($12.20) who is owned by Franklin Meier and Super Mile. Angelo Nappo does the training.
(Photo: Lady Dudette with driver Kyle Cummings.)
And in the $7,500 Open II-III pace for fillies and mares, Lady Dudette (Kyle Cummings) followed a similar path, getting away fifth behind Lady London (Ray Fisher Jr.) who had paced away to a five open length lead at the three-quarters.
There, Lady Dudette was fourth on the outside and pacing up a storm. A highly animated Cummings continued to urge the mare around the last turn and Lady Dudette caught the leader mid-stretch and opened up a 1-3/4 length lead at the wire in 1:55.4.
Lady Dudette ($16.20) now has two wins in a row for Kyle Cummings, who also owns the mare. Tammy Cummings trains the winner.
Driver Billy Davis Jr. had the hat trick on Wednesday while Ray Fisher Jr., Dave McNeight III and Jim Morrill Jr. all had doubles. Trainer Jim Clouser Jr. also had a training double.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday night with a later post time of 7:05 due to the Kentucky Derby.
