Batavia Downs

Quicksilvercandy A with driver Drew Monti.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The $125,000 finals of the Claiming Championship Series (CCS) that highlighted the card at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Nov. 11) produced some impressive efforts on the track from both man and beast and one of them now tops the sport once again. 

Quicksilvercandy A who came into the night tied with Safe From Terror for the most wins in North America this year with 19, reclaimed her previously lone spot at the top by winning the $20,000 final for $5,000-$7,500 claiming fillies and mares by a nose over her stablemate Kaitlyn Rae.

Quicksilvercandy A (Drew Monti) took a two-hole trip behind Kaitlyn Rae (Larry Stalbaum) to the top of the stretch when she dropped into the passing lane and out-paced the leader to the wire, winning by a mere nose in 1:57.

It was the 20^th win of the year for Quicksilvercandy A ($2.10) and 61^st of her stellar career. The winner’s share of the purse pushed her 2017 earnings to $106,694 for owner Larry Stalbaum. North America’s leading percentage trainer Kim Asher trains Quicksilvercandy A.

Monti had a total of five winners on the program including two more legs of the CCS.

Chelseas Chance with driver Drew Monti.

In the $20,000 CCS final for $7,500-$10,000 claiming trotters, Chelseas Chance went wire to wire in impressive style to win easily in 1:59. It was the sixth win of the year for the 6-year-old Kadabra mare that is owned by James Caradori and trained by Carl Monti.

Monti also won the $15,000 CCS final for $4,000 claiming horses and geldings with Donegal Jim who sat third the whole mile before tipping wide off the last turn and pacing by the pace-setting One Chaser (Ray Fisher Jr.) to win by a length in 1:56.4 for owner/trainer Tessa Roland.

Lucky McTrucky (1:54, $20.40) and I’m So Handsome (1:54.1, $11.00) rounded out the quintuple-win night for Monti.

In the $20,000 CCS final for $5,000 to $6,000 pacing horses and geldings, Kings Treasure (Billy Davis Jr.) pulled at the three-quarters and powered home to a one-length victory in 1:56.1. Kings Treasure ($4.30) is owned by the Resilient Racing Stable and is trained by Rose Russo.

The $15,000 CCS final for $4,000 to $5,000 claiming trotters went to Ellen’s Streak (Larry Stalbaum) as she went coast to coast from post one in 2:01.1. Ellen’s Streak (3.70) is owned by her driver and trained by Kim Asher.

Rock The Dream with driver Ray Fisher Jr.

The $20,000 CCS final for $8,000 to $10,000 claiming pacers was won by Rock The Dream (Ray Fisher Jr.) in wire to wire fashion in 1:55.1, with a sparkling :27.3 final quarter. Rock The Dream ($2.40) is owned by Benjamin Ortiz and trained by Frank Mastrodonato.

The last $15,000 CCS final was for $4,000 claiming fillies and mares and it went to Fox Valley Lena (Ray Fisher Jr.) who led at every station before stopping the clock at 1:58.1. It was the 13^th win of the year for Fox Valley Lena who is owned by David Bratt and trained by Russell Bratt.

Fireyourguns with driver Mike Caprio.

In the weekly featured $10,000 Open Handicap Pace, Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) looked in mid-season form for his last start of the year, leading at every station before holding off strong late charges by Focus Power (Drew Monti) and Itsonlyrocknroll A (Larry Stalbaum) to hang on to a head advantage in 1:54.

It was the seventh win of the year and 55^th lifetime victory for Fireyourguns ($4.60) and owners Jennifer and Robert Lowe and Terrence Mc Clory, who also trains the winner.  

The Downs dash driving race remains a developing metric with the top spot getting tighter after Saturday’s action. Larry Stalbaum is still in the lead with 103 wins, but on the strength of his five-win performance, Drew Monti is now only one win behind with 102. Ray Fisher Jr. who also had a good night by winning three races, now sits in third with 98 wins.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 15) with post time for the first race set at 5 p.m.

Photos courtesy of Paul White. Above, Kevin Cummings.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

With much talk about the top three dash drivers at Batavia Downs this year, the man sitting in fourth has been quietly creeping into the picture. Kevin Cummings is a four-time Batavia Downs driving title holder (2009, 2010, 2014 and 2015) and he has been red-hot of late. On Wednesday (Nov. 8) Cummings won five of the 10 races on the program while finishing second and third in two others, giving him a UDR of just under .600 for the night.

Cummings won with Aritzia Hanover (1:57, $10.20), Bad Glamour Girl (1:56.2, $31.20), Elite (1.56.3, $4), Maradona (1:57.1, $5.20) and Voltina, who upset in the nights feature race.

Despite winning the top distaff pace last week at Batavia Downs, Voltina was dismissed by the betting public in the same class this week. But that didn’t dissuade her as she struck for the second straight time in the $9,500 Open Handicap for fillies and mares.

Voltina left from post six and had the lead in the blink of an eye. With the field in single-file fashion behind her for almost a half, they got to that station in a modest :58.1. A weak outer flow started to advance but really gained no momentum. However Rockin Kasbah (Larry Stalbaum) who had been in the garden spot from the very beginning was loaded with pace as the leader came around the last turn. At the top of the stretch Cummings was driving Voltina hard as Rockin Kasbah ducked into the passing lane. Rockin Kasbah made up ground all the way to the wire but Voltina hung onto a nose victory in 1:55.

It was the seventh win of the year for Voltina ($21.80) and topped off her bank account at $62,896 for owner CHS Racing LLC. Tony Cummings trains the winner.

The previously mentioned driver’s race continues to be interesting. Current leader Larry Stalbaum had two winners on Wednesday as did the second place Drew Monti. So at the end of the day it’s Larry Stalbaum with 99 wins, Drew Monti with 95, Ray Fisher Jr. with 93 wins and Kevin Cummings now with 79, is still in the conversation. With 16 nights of racing left it remains a wide-open competition.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Nov. 10) with post time at 6 o'clock.

Photo below of Voltina pulling ahead with driver Kevin Cummings.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The action will be fast and furious among the local horsemen and women this weekend as there will be total purses of $176,600 distributed among the 13 races at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Nov. 11), making it the largest pool of cash to be distributed among the local racing community this year on a non-New York Sire Stake card. 

The reason for the increased purse is the seven final legs of the Claiming Championship Series that have been going on the entire meet.

Since the beginning of the season, mid-level claimers accumulated points throughout the year and those who were highest in their divisions became eligible for championship final purses. Divisions contested included $4,000, $5,000-$6,000 and $8,000-$10,000 claimers on the pace and $4,000-$5,000 and $7,500-$10,000 claimers on the trot. Points were awarded to the top-five finishers of each race and accrued all year.

On Saturday, the $4,000 and $4,000-$5,000 categories will compete for $15,000 in their respective finals and all other categories will vie for $20,000.

The first four finals are carded as races one through four which are four of the five, early Pick-5 wager races. The final three divisions go as races 10 through 13 which include the late Pick-3. There are also eight stable entries within the seven races and that will make the wagering both interesting and challenging.

"This is always a very exciting night of racing in Western New York. It's for the bread and butter of our industry; the claimers" said Joe Zambito, Race Secretary and Race Caller at Batavia Downs. "I'm not sure where you can race $4,000 to $10,000 claimers year round and have the opportunity to race for purses like ours."

Also on Saturday's card are the weekly featured paces comprised of the $10,000 Open, $9,000 Open II and $8,500 Open III. 

Post time for the first race on Saturday is 6 p.m.

Voltina takes the lead with reinsman Kevin Cummings. Photo courtesy of Paul White.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Voltina went from the agony of defeat to the thrill of victory in a short span in winning the $9,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 1).

On a rain-soaked night over a deteriorating track, Voltina (Kevin Cummings) got away second behind Classy Lane Rose (Drew Monti) who shot to the front by the eighth pole. The abbreviated field of five then followed the leader to a pedestrian half of :59.2 before anyone made a move. Who Says That (Ray Fisher Jr.) was the one to pull and challenge past the grandstand but her attempt failed before three-quarters as Voltina upped the tempo to :28.3 and she faded out of the picture.

When the race spiraled off the turn, Classy Lane Rose pulled out and paced alongside Voltina before getting a slight advantage just before the wire. But just as soon as she gained the lead, Classy Lane Rose took a bad step and Monti had to gather her up, and that split-second adjustment allowed Voltina to retake the front right at the finish line and win by a head in 1:56.3.

The sixth win of the year for Voltina ($7.10), along with being 21 out of 39 in the money this year, has put $58,146 in the bank for owner CHS Racing LLC. Anthony Cummings trains the 7-year-old daughter of Allamerican Native.

Larry Stalbaum, Ray Fisher Jr. and Billy Davis Jr. all had driving triples on Wednesday’s card while North America’s leading percentage trainer Kim Asher sent three of her students to the winner’s enclosure.

With the night’s three wins, Stalbaum has now taken the lead in the Batavia Downs dash driving competition with 90 wins for the meet. Previous leader Drew Monti has now slipped to a second place tie with Ray Fisher Jr., both sporting 89 victories. The battle for steering supremacy will continue for 19 more nights of racing before a champion can be crowned.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on this evening (Nov. 3) with first post at 6 o'clock.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs will offer a $2,500 guaranteed early Pick-5 pool when racing resumes this afternoon (Nov. 1) at the oldest lighted harness track in America. The actual carryover is $1,299.

The Pick-5 is a 50-cent base wager that begins in race one and runs through race five. There is no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners the entire pool (minus takeout) will be carried over to the Late Pick-5 that begins in race seven.

Post time for the first race is 5 p.m.

Photo of Who Says That with reinsman Ray Fisher Jr., coustesy of Paul White.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Following loosely third for the entire mile, Who Says That found late pace and rallied strong to capture the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening (Oct. 25).

Sportsmuffler (Jim Morrill Jr.) left swiftly around Voltina (Kevin Cummings) and proceeded to take the field to the quarter in :27.2. At that point Who Says That (Ray Fisher Jr.) was a gapped-third, about five lengths from the leader. The mares stayed in single file to the half when Hey Kobe (Denny Bucceri) came first up and tried to approach the front-runner. As the pack went by three-quarters in 1:26.1, the outer flow bid failed allowing Voltina to pop the pocket from second and circle Sportsmuffler around the last turn. At the head of the stretch Voltina cleared and looked like she was a winner. But Who Says That had stayed close behind Voltina and had plenty of pace left coming home to win by a length in 1:54.4.

It was the fourth win in the last eight starts and the sixth win of the year for Who Says That ($6.20) who now has earned $43,981 for owners Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Chris Shambo and Jack Rice. The 6-year-old daughter of Badlands Hanover is trained by Maria Rice.

In the $8,000 Fillies and Mares Open II Sarah Cola (Billy Davis Jr.) went wire to wire in 1:55.3, outdueling the winningest standardbred in North America this year, Quicksilvercandy A (Larry Stalbaum) down the lane for a neck victory. Sarah Cola ($6) is owned by Giuseppe Micchia and Jim Graham, who also does the training.

Kevin Cummings led all drivers with four wins on the night while Billy Davis Jr. was right behind him with three tallies.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Oct. 27) with post time set for 6 o'clock.

Photo of Rock Fame with driver Ron Beback Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

In what may have been the most entertaining race of the year, Rock Fame moved up in class after a lifetime best effort last week and turned a perfect trip into a late rally to win the $10,500 Open Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday evening (Oct. 21).

In Runaway Bay (Kevin Cummings) out-dueled Rock Fame (Ron Beback Jr.) to the quarter in :26.4 before being immediately harassed by Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) who tried to overtake him just past that station. Despite his best effort, Fireyourguns could not clear and was then parked to the three-quarter pole. That was when Show Stopping (Billy Davis Jr.), Teo Enteo A (Larry Stalbaum) and Focus Power (Drew Monti) tipped to attack and fanned four-wide against the still-leading In Runaway Bay. But it was Rock Fame, who sat the perfect two-hole trip behind all the action, that found the passing lane and out-sprinted everyone to the wire to win by a length in 1:53.2.

It was the fifth win in the last seven starts and the eighth win of the year for Rock Fame ($10.20) who now boasts $40,773 on his card for 2017. Rock Fame has been owned by William Emmons since he claimed him for $12,500 at Batavia Downs on August 27 and became the best resident pacer on the grounds for this week under the training of James Clouser Jr.

In the co-featured $9,000 Open II pace, Miss Irish Rose A (Larry Stalbaum) took on a full-field of male opponents and went coast to coast to capture a narrow victory over Chickenwithabanjo (Jim Morrill Jr.) in 1:53.4, which was a new lifetime mark for the winner. Miss Irish Rose A ($2.40) now has three wins in four North American starts for owner/trainer/driver Larry Stalbaum.

Drew Monti led all drivers with four wins on the card followed by Ron Beback Jr. and Larry Stalbaum with three each.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon at 5.

Photo of BZ Glide with reinsman Mike Caprio.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Getting a favorable draw after having post seven last week, BZ Glide looked like his old self as he handily won the $10,500 Open Handicap trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Oct. 20).

Leaving from post four, driver Mike Caprio hustled BZ Glide to the front and proceeded from there comfortably in :28.1 and :58.4. At the second station Northern Matador (Jim Morrill Jr.) pulled first up and tried to pressure the leader for the next quarter mile. When that challenge failed, Noble Legend (Ray Fisher Jr.) tipped three-wide around him and tried to get to BZ Glide through the last turn. But with little more than a backward glance to keep an eye on the competition, Caprio sat chilly in rhythm with his horse and BZ Glide trotted away down the lane to an easy two-length victory in 1:58.

It was the second win in the last three starts and fifth of the year for BZ Glide ($7.00) who is owned by the Caprio Stable LLC and trained by Alana Caprio.

In the co-feature $8,000 Open II trot, Osprey Vision (Ray Fisher Jr.) got the parking ticket to the quarter before clearing and eventually opening up a three-length margin of victory in 1:57.1. With his ninth win of the year and $60,954 in earnings, Osprey Vision ($7.20) is having a career year for owner Marissa Russo and trainer David Russo.

Billy Davis Jr. and Ray Fisher Jr. led all drivers with three wins apiece on the night.

Photo of Exotic Beach with driver Larry Stalbaum, courtesy of Paul White.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Without even a moment of doubt in the mile, Exotic Beach overpowered her five rivals to jog home with authority in the $9,500 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 18).

Exotic Beach (Larry Stalbaum) tucked in third off the gate while Squeeze This (Billy Davis Jr.) settled on the lead. But that was just a ruse by Stalbaum as he pulled Exotic Beach halfway up the backstretch and gunned her to the front in :27 flat. After clearing, Stalbaum grabbed some leather just to let the five trailers think they were in the race. But it became obvious that wasn’t the case once they hit the second stanza.

Exotic Beach opened up a gapped three-length lead and that was as close as the rest would get for the rest of the race. She cruised to three-quarters in 1:24, rounded the turn in full stride and paced away down the stretch to win by four in 1:53.3.

The time was a new seasonal mark for Exotic Beach and only three-fifths of a second off the track record for aged pacing mares.

It was the sixth win of the year for Exotic Beach ($4.30) who has now earned $52,266 for owner Larry Stalbaum, who also does the training.

Owner/trainer/driver Stalbaum similarly won the co-featured $8,000 Fillies and Mares Open II pace when he went from last at the half to three-deep at three-quarters to a half-length victor in 1:55, which was a new seasonal mark for the winner. Kaitlyn Rae ($5.80) won her ninth race in 18 starts this year giving her $36,594 in the bank account.

The top three dash drivers of the meet had a very business night on Wednesday. Larry Stalbaum had four winners, Ray fisher Jr. three and Drew Monti two. As a result there has been movement at the top of the leader board. Larry Stalbaum who was behind in double digits only a week ago is now in a first place tie with former leader Drew Monti with 79 wins apiece. Ray Fisher Jr. is a close third with 75. With nine weeks left in the meet, this is going to be a tight three-way competition for the rest of the year.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 20) with post time at 6 p.m.

Photo of Runaway Bay with driver Kevin Cummings.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Racing against Foiled Again last week must have had a positive effect on In Runaway Bay as he put a circle around the best local pacers in the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 14).

In Runaway Bay (Kevin Cummings) fired off the gate and crossed over like a flash of light. Cruising unchallenged from there until the half, the leader saw fit to cut a rather casual :57.3 fraction. At that point In Runaway Bay was confronted first by Santana Beach (John Cummings Jr.) until three-quarters and then by Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) when that one faded. Try as he might Fireyourguns couldn’t get closer than a length from the time he pulled and when the race hit the stretch, In Runaway Bay ran away to a three-length victory in 1:53.1, which was a new seasonal mark for the winner.

It was the fifth win of the year for In Runaway Bay ($26.60), all five of which were scored at Batavia Downs. Owner Super Mile LLC has received $30,010 in purses as a result of the 7-year-old Mach Three offspring’s efforts this year which were achieved through the training of Angelo Nappo.

In the $9,000 Open II co-feature, Show Stopping (Kevin Cummings) sat a tight two-hole trip behind the heavily favored Miss Irish Rose A (Larry Stalbaum) before popping the pocket off the last turn and out-pacing the leader to the wire to win in 1:52.1, which was a new lifetime mark. Show Stopping ($7.20) is owned by Resilient Racing Stable and trained by Rose Russo.

Kevin Cummings led all drivers with four wins on the night and James Clouser Jr. led all trainers with three.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 18) with post time at 5 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The feature race at Batavia Downs on Wednesday was the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace and Squeeze This paid big dividends after being overlooked by the betting public and tripping-out to a narrow margin of victory.

Classy Lane Rose (Drew Monti) went right to the front and seated all the girls behind her around the first turn. Exotic Beach (Larry Stalbaum) who had gotten away last, became restless at the eighth pole and pulled to start a slow, methodic march to the front. With Classy Lane Rose comfortable on the lead, it took Exotic Beach another half mile outside before she reached the pacesetter at the three-eighths pole to get within striking range.

Aware of the challenge at hand, Monti stepped up the third quarter with his mare but the pesky Exotic Beach would not relent. The two then argued around the last turn before Classy Lane Rose showed some fatigue at the head of the stretch. It was there the pocket-sitting Squeeze This (Billy Davis Jr.) snuck into the passing lane and zoomed by both of them to win by a nose in 1:57.2.

It was the fifth win of the year for Squeeze This ($37.80) who now has $41,591 in the bank. Garth Bechtel owns the 5-year-old Allamerican Native offspring that is trained by Jim Graham.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 13) with post time at 6 p.m.

Foiled Again with driver Kevin Cummings. Photo by Paul White.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The Nation’s leading trainer Ron Burke shipped two of his millionaires into Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 7) and won the two biggest overnight races of the season at the oldest lighted harness track in America with Foiled Again and DW’S NY Yank. Burke, The Burke Brigade and driver Kevin Cummings had a very good night. 

The pacing feature was the $15,000 George “Duke” Dranichak Memorial named for a longtime local horseman and racing official whose career spanned over five decades.

Focus Power (Drew Monti) went for the front but outpaced the turn, making a break. This left In Runaway Bay (Ray Fisher Jr.) calling the shots with five behind him in :27.3. Right at the quarter Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) pulled and sidled the leader around the turn and past the half in :55.1, but Fireyourguns couldn’t clear and remained parked into the second circuit. With the outer flow stagnant, Teo Enteo A (Larry Stalbaum) tipped three-wide at the three-eighths and brought Don’tcallmefrancis (Billy Davis Jr.) into the fray with him. This left Foiled Again (Kevin Cummings) hopelessly locked in at the rail fourth behind a wall of horses.

Just before the three-quarters In Runaway Bay stopped, Fireyourguns finally cleared and Cummings was somehow able to maneuver Foiled Again out of the box and moved him into third behind Teo Enteo A. Halfway through the final bend, Cummings tipped the richest Standardbred of all time three-deep and had him in full gear. Foiled Again proceeded to barrel down the stretch and show his class once again, pacing by everyone under mild urging to win in 1:52.2.

It was the 96^th lifetime win for Foiled Again ($4.60) and his fourth victory at Batavia Downs where he won the Kane Memorial Pace in 2009, 2013 and 2016. The richest Standardbred of all time got even richer and now has an unbelievable $7,543,278 in lifetime earnings.

Foiled Again is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and JJK Stables LLC.

The top trot was the $15,000 Brian Schroeder Memorial Trot named in honor of the local trainer/driver who developed many great trotters and excelled on the Grand Circuit.  

The heavily favored DW’s NY Yank left from post six and went right to the front. As the field settled behind him there were no serious challenges as they tripped the timers in :28, :57.1 and 1:27.1. But when they spun off the far turn the leader’s biggest test was yet to come.

Fleet Bumblebee (Drew Monti) had been sitting in the garden spot the whole race and when they straightened out, he hit the passing lane. With DW’s NY Yank suddenly looking vulnerable, Monti went to work on Fleet Bumblebee inside of Cummings who was already high-lining the leader. The two drivers were highly animated all the way down the lane with Fleet Bumblebee gaining with every stride. But as they hit the wire DW’s NY Yank hung on to win by a nose in 1:57 in a very exciting finish.

It was the third win in a row for DW’S NY Yank ($2.40) and sixth win of the year and that effort boosted his bankroll to $140,750 for 2017. His career numbers got even more impressive, now with 46 wins and $1,156,335 in purses to his credit.

The 8-year-old altered son of Dilbert Hanover is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

Photo of Miss Irish Rose A with driver Larry Stalbaum, courtesy of Paul White.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The wind and rain blew into Genesee County prior to post time on Wednesday (Oct. 4) but the sun did come out for the first race. That combination may have helped Miss Irish Rose A bloom for a second straight week as she easily won the $9,500 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs in impressive style.

Larry Stalbaum fired Miss Irish Rose A hard off the gate and crossed over to the pylons before anyone knew what happened. They may as well have put the finish line there because at that point, the race was over. Leading the rest of the way with a gapped advantage, Miss Irish Rose A cut the corners in :28, :57.1 and 1:25.4 where she opened up a six-length advantage. Stalbaum shut her down at the top of the lane but Miss Irish Rose A still paced home in :28.2 to win by over a length in 1:54.1.

It was the second consecutive win for Miss Irish Rose A ($3.20), her second win in North America and her second successive lifetime mark. Larry Stalbaum owns the 5-year-old McCardle progeny who is trained by Kim Asher.

In the $8,000 F&M Open II co-feature the Asher/Stalbaum playbook was still opened to the same page as Exotic Beach took a quick lead and toured the facility in front from there, winning by a length in 1:56 over an even muddier track. Exotic Beach ($5.70) scored her fifth win of the year for the Man from Matamoris, who owns this one as well.

Larry Stalbaum (Photo provided by Batavia Downs.)

It was quite a big night for the Larry Stalbaum/Kim Asher combination as they teamed up for seven wins on the card.  Besides Miss Irish Rose A and Exotic Beach, they also scored with Kaitlyn Rae (1:56.4, $6.70), Rockin Kasbah (1:57, $6.70), Quicksilvercandy A (1:56.4, $7.20), Cartoonist (1:56, $5.80) and Saint William A (1:57.4, $2.50).

The eighth win by Stalbaum was with Hitontheflipside (2:01, $19.00) who is trained by Jim Graham.

Stalbaum had 10 drives on the card with eight wins and one third and that gave him an unbelievable .833 UDR for the evening. 

The wielding of wins on Wednesday by Stalbaum vaulted him into second place among drivers for dash wins for the meet. Currently Drew Monti is on top with 68 wins, Stalbaum is now is second with 60 and Ray Fisher Jr. has dropped into third.

As far as Asher is concerned, she is now firmly in the lead for wins by a trainer this session with 40. That is seven more than JD Perrin who currently sits in second place as a result of the stellar night by the Asher entourage.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Oct. 6) with post time at 6 o'clock.