Batavia Downs

Press Release:

Batavia, NY --- As advertised the New York sired 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers were expected to put on quite a show, Friday night (Sept-4) at Batavia Downs Casino, and show they did not only breaking the track record once but in all three divisions.

Getting Personal’s 1:53.2 record for 3-year-old male pacers, set in 1993, was clearly on the line with 22 extremely talented sophomores in town to compete for more than $200,000 in New York Sire Stakes money.

It didn’t take long for a new record to be established as it came in the very first race. OK Braveheart, with Jim Morrill, Jr., went right to the front, opened an insurmountable lead at the half and cruised to a 10-1/2 length score in 1:52.2 to break the previous record by a full second. The final time was just two-fifths of a second off Kenneth J’s 1:52 all-age track record.

OK Braveheart (Bettor's Delight-Color Me Beachy) scored his ninth win of the season and raised his 2009 bankroll to more than $199,000 for owners David Scharf, Rick Phillps and Chuck Pompey. Former Batavia Downs trainer Chris Oakes is the conditioner. OK Braveheart is currently the points leader for the New York Bred Night of Champions finals to be held at Vernon Downs on September 26.

““He felt so good. I just let him roll,” reinsman Jim Morrill, Jr. said. “If I would have chased after him he might have paced in :51 (1:51) and a piece.”

Morrill also drove Kenneth J to the all-age record last year.

Tim Bojarski, President of the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association made a special presentation.

Division two, the slowest of the three divisions, wasn’t slow at all; in fact it was faster than Getting Personal's previous record.

Handsome Harry (Dream Away-Princess Jocelyn), again with Jim Morrill, Jr., brushed to command coming to the half and paced a :28 final stanza to score in 1:53. Mark Ford is the trainer. Ralph Del Priore, Jr. and Harry Doyle are the owners of Handsome Harry, who notched his 12th win of the season. His 2009 earnings now stand at more than $211,000.

The last, but certainly not least, NYSS division came in race nine. This race would be the closest of the three with the unbeaten gelding Go Go Solano (Bettor's Delight-Real Excitement) and Aaron Merriman and the very well regarded colt Hypnotic Blue Chip and Jim Morrill, Jr. hooking up around final turn and putting on quite a stretch battle.

Pacing his last quarter in a sizzling :27.2, Hypnotic Blue Chip was able to get up at the wire to prevail by a quarter-length in 1:52.3 over the previously unbeaten Mark Capone-trained gelding. Capone was the trainer of former track record holder Getting Personal.

Hypnotic Blue Chip’s (Art Major-A Traceofmagic) 11th win of 2009 raised his seasonal earnings to more than $360,000 for owners Rachel Frost, Stable 45, Robert Murphy and Mark Harder, who is also the trainer.

“I had to work harder than I thought I would,” Morrill said in the winner’s circle. “I’m a little out of breath, that other horse (Go Go Solano) gave us all we wanted.”

For the second time this season Morrill swept all three NYSS divisions.

Live racing at America’s oldest lighted harness track continues this holiday weekend on Saturday night; post time is 7:05 p.m. The Downs will present a special matinee racing program on Labor Day, post time is 1:15 p.m.

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Todd Haight
Promotional Marketing Specialist
Batavia Downs Casino

Pictured, OK Braveheart. Photo courtesy Paul White.

This autographed, Hall of Fame, Jim Kelly football of among the auction items you could win at Batavia Downs tomorrow in a charity auction to benefit Mercy Flight.

Post time is 1:15 p.m.

It's all part of Family Fun Day at Batavia Downs. The fun includes a bounce house, Pringles the Clown and Mr. Scribbles (from 2 to 4 p.m.).

And of course, the always popular annual Wiener Dog Race (post time 4:20 p.m.)!

The auction is a silent auction and will be held in the Paddock Room from noon until 5 p.m.

Press Release:

Batavia, NY ---  Witch Is Bettor, Eagle Way and Indulge Me, all driven by Jim Morrill Jr., won their respective divisions in New York Sire Stakes action, Friday Night (Aug. 28) at Batavia Downs Casino.

Almost $200,000 in New York Sire Stakes money was up for grabs for the 3-year-old pacing fillies.

The fastest and most impressive winner was Witch Is Bettor, who just missed the Downs track record, when she scored under wraps by four lengths in 1:54.2, just missing Isabella Blue Chip’s 1:54.1 record.

Coming to the half Witch Is Bettor and Morrill unleashed a powerful three-wide brush to assume command heading into the clubhouse turn and coast to victory--not bad considering the temperature was an unseasonably cool 65 degrees.
 
“She got a little grabby so I tipped her out and let her pace, I didn’t want to sit behind the 4-horse (Keep It Fair) so I went on with it,” Morrill said, “ If I had known we could have broke the record I would have let her pace a little more.”

The Bettor’s Delight-Witch Hanover filly is owned and trainer by Robert Horowitz and Jerrold Spitzberg of New Jersey. The win was Witch is Bettor’s sixth of the season and raised her 2009 earnings to over $142,000.

Eagle Way, going off an overwhelming favorite started off the trifecta of Sire Stakes races when she took the short around to win in 1:56.1 by 1-1/4 lengths. Getting away second Morrill sat the pocket behind Up Front Kellie Jo (Wally Hennessey), angled to the passing lane as the field turned for home to win going away.

“We were going so slow I thought Wally’s filly would carry me and she did” Morrill said.

The Dream Away-Western Dancer filly notched her fifth win of the season for owner Frank Dettore Horse Racing LLC of Ohio. Mark Ford is the conditioner. Her 2009 bankroll stands at over $158,000.

The photo camera was needed to decide the order of finish in final stakes event of the evening as three very talented fillies were charging to the wire. When the dust settled it was Indulge Me holding on to win over pocketsitting Perfect Launch (Greg Merton) and a wide All Spirit (Jim Marohn Jr.) in 1:55.2. Moving at the quarter, Indulge Me and Morrill put up all the numbers to tally her sixth win of the year for owners Robert and Lauren Tucker and trainer Ed Lohmeyer of New Jersey. The win boosted Indulge Me’s lifetime earnings to more than $500,000.

The 2009 stakes season at Batavia Downs Casino continues on Sunday afternoon. Three Late Closers, also for the 3-year-old pacing fillies, will be contested. Sunday post time is 1:15 p.m.

Racing resumes on Saturday night, with post time set for 7:05 p.m.

Todd Haight
Promotional Marketing Specialist
Batavia Downs Casino

Press Release:

Batavia, NY --- The stakes season will continue on Friday night when 22 extremely talented 3-year-old New York-bred pacing fillies ship into Western New York to compete for almost $200,000 in New York Sire Stakes purses.

Back in 2007, the last time the sophomore pacing fillies were in town, Isabella Blue Chip established a new track record when she paced in 1:54.1.

“We have some awfully good fillies coming in,” Joe Zambito, Batavia Downs Racing Secretary said. “If the weather cooperates I wouldn’t be surprised if the track record was broken”

The first of three New York Sire Stakes divisions will kick-in race four.

The Dream Away--Western Dancer filly, Eagle Way, will start out as the 5-2 favorite. She’s currently the points leader in the race to the Sept. 26 Night of Champions, to be held at Vernon Downs. Eagle Way has Sire Stakes wins at Saratoga, Monticello and Yonkers. Jim Morrill, Jr., the leading driver on the New York Sire Stakes circuit this season, will pilot.

“I picked her over a few others in there,” Morrill said, “I have driven many throughout the years for Mark Ford, and I thought she was in a good spot. She’s really a good filly.”

Morrill will drive the 7-5 favorite in race eight, Witch Is Bettor. The Bettor’s Delight--Witch Hanover filly has season’s earnings of more than $109,000. She has two Sire Stakes wins at Yonkers and one at Tioga Downs this season. Bob Horowitz is the conditioner.

“I’m undefeated on her and have always had something left in the tank,” Morrill observed. “I’m expecting another big effort this evening."

Once again, Jim Morrill will drive the morning line favorite. This time he’ll sit behind the Bettor’s Delight--Summer Child, filly Indulge Me for trainer Ed Lohmeyer.

“She’s arguably the best New York-bred filly out there when she brings her best game,” Morrill said. “She was very good the night I won with her at Saratoga.”

Indulge Me has Sire Stake wins at Yonkers, Saratoga and Monticello.

Racing fans that wear their New York Sire Stakes baseball caps that were given out on July 31 will receive $2 in casino free play. The offer begins at 5:30 p.m. at Players Club and only patrons enrolled in the promotion on July 31 can take advantage of the offer.

This offer is also available on Sept. 2, when the 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters will be in town and on Sept. 4, when the glamour division, the 3-year-old pacing colts, make their way around America’s oldest lighted harness track

The first of 12 races on Friday night gets underway at 7:05.

Press Release:

Batavia, NY --- Three divisions of New York Bred Late Closers for 2-year-old Colt and Gelding trotters were contested on Wednesday night (Aug-19) at Batavia Downs Casino. Each carried a purse of $12,700.

The fastest of the three winners came in the first division, carded as race number two. Aruba Vacation, a Dream Vacation-Dixie Hill gelding put up all the numbers en route to a 9-length victory in 2:03.4. Dan Daley is the trainer/driver for owners Howard stables, Ann-Mari Daley and Richard Lombarbo.
Locally owned Wrinkle This (Troy Boring) was farther back in second while Naughty Image (Dude Goodblood Jr.) wound up third.

Dream Vacation, standing at Winbak Farms, notched his second winner of the night, this time with Headingforaruckus for owner Dennis Robert Beaver. Kevin Cummings drove for trainer Kirk Desmond. Headingforaruckus got up to score by a ¼ length in a 5-horse blanket finish in 2:05.4. Vagra with Doug Ackley closed in to be second while Gunshy Kosmos (Ron Beback Jr.), who held a stretch lead, had to settle for third.

BJ’s Super Trooper (Dilibert Hanover-Yankee T) won the final Late Closer of the evening in 2:04.4 by a neck in tow to Jimmy Whittemore for owner/trainer Jeff Deslandes and William Bramer. Longshot Blues And BBQ’s (Dude Goodblood Jr.) led until the deep stretch and finished second. Signal Hill Ginger, with former Downs reinsman Mark Whitcroft rounded out the top three.

Pembroke Primo, moving up from the claiming ranks, closed from last to first to win the $9,000 Filly and Mare Open in 1:56.1. Kevin Cummings was in the sulky for owner/trainer John Cummings Sr. and Mark Jakubik.

Racing resumes Friday night, August 21. The first of 12 gets underway at 7:05 p.m. Batavia Downs Casino is currently racing every Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Saturday Night. For more information go online at www.bataviadownscasino.com.

Todd Haight
Promotional Marketing Specialist
Batavia Downs Casino

Press Release:

Batavia, NY --- Three divisions of New York bred 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters, with purse money of $12,700 each, highlight the 12-race Wednesday evening (August 19) Batavia Downs Casino program. The action gets underway at 7:05 p.m.

Race two kicks off the Late Closing action. Aruba Vacation, by Dream Vacation, starts out at 5-2 on the morning line for trainer/driver Dan Daley. Aruba Vacation has earned over $7,300 after making four lifetime starts -- three against New York Sire Stakes competition and one in the Tompkins-Geers at Tioga. Also entered is the locally owned Wrinkle This, a Wrinkle In Time colt who is already a three-time winner, his last victory coming at the Caledonia fairgrounds.

Division two is carded as race five. Another Dan Daley juvenile, Sun Island, figures to get most of the attention. The CR Excalibur gelding comes off a second place finish in a $30,786 NYSS event at Saratoga. George Ducharme, trainer of Downs 2-year-old track record holder Donttellmywife, sends out the Malabar Man colt He’smyman. Local reinsman Jack Flanigen will be at the controls.

Race ten will be the final Late Closer of the evening. Incentive Hall, fresh off a second place finish last Sunday afternoon in a $25,149 New York State Fair event, looks poised for a big effort. The Conway Hall colt is trained by Jim Mulcahy. Kevin Cummings will be back in the sulky.

The Wednesday program also features the $9,000 Filly and Mares Open pace. Jezzabell Hotspur, already over $65,000 in seasonal earnings starts out as the favorite. Sherri Holliday conditions the talented side-wheeler for owner Betty Tauber. Chris Page will be in town to drive.

America’s oldest lighted harness track is currently racing every Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Saturday. Simulcast action from North America’s top tracks is offered every day but Tuesday and the Gaming Floor, featuring over 600 slot machines is open 7 days a week, from 10 a.m. until 2 a.m. 

Todd Haight
Promotional Marketing Specialist
Batavia Downs Casino

Press release

Batavia, NY --- Scotts Roll Royce has been one of the best horses in Western New York this season and on Saturday night (Aug-15) at Batavia Downs Casino racing fans got to see why.

Stepping up from the claiming ranks, Scotts Rolls Royce unleashed a powerful burst of speed around the final turn to win going away in the featured $9,000 Open Handicap. The final time of 1:54.4 was the fastest pace so far during the 2009 Summer-Fall meet.  Jimmy Whisman was at the controls for owner- trainer Greg Luther of Ohio. The win was the 12th of the season for Scotts Rolls Royce ($18.40) and raised his 2009 earnings to over $53,000.

Triple Bars (Robert Verney), first-over in the mile finished a game second while Oh Gee Whiz (Jim McNeight), who led for most of the mile, wound up third.

Kevin Cummings continued with his hot hand (and bruised arm) guiding home four more winners to increase his lead in the drivers standings. Jimmy Whisman scored a hat-trick while Jim McNeight and Robert Verney had driving doubles.

Racing resumes on Monday night at America’s Oldest Light Harness track, post time is 7:05 p.m. Mondays in August are Seniors Night, Beginning at 5:30 p.m., all seniors 55 and over that swipe their Players Club card receive a free racing program and a $2.00 discount at the Paddock Room concession stand.

Todd Haight
Promotional Marketing Specialist
Batavia Downs Casino

Photo by Paul White

Press release:

Batavia, NY --- Handicapper Tom Wiate of Niagara Falls defeated over 300 contestants to win the first $1,000 Handicapping contest of the season at Batavia Downs Casino. He wins $500. 

Wiate and Tom Kelley of Batavia both finished with 44 points but Wiate was victorious via the tiebreaker. The total mutuel prices of the winners he selected was $52.00. Kelley’s winners equaled $34.40. He wins $250.

Warren Ristine of Hamburg finished with 43 points and pockets $125.

Jean Leddell of Rochester had 41 points and takes home $75.

Francine Monteleone of Batavia rounded out the top five and cashed for $50, after finishing with 40 points. A tiebreaker was also needed to determine the fifth spot.

All prize money can be picked up on Saturday night (Aug-15) beginning at
5:30 p.m. at Players Club.

The next $1,000 contest will be Friday night, September 18. Contest forms can be picked up on the day of the contest starting at 5:30 p.m. at Players Club.

Todd Haight
Promotional Marketing Specialist
Batavia Downs Casino
 

Press Release:

Batavia, NY -- The saying you can’t keep a good man down certainly applied to Batavia Downs Casino dash leading driver Kevin Cummings on Friday night (Aug-14). Back in the bike after a nasty spill on Monday night, Cummings won the featured $9,000 Open Handicap Trot with Australian Stock and the $7,200 co-featured Open II trot with Ima a Cricket Also. Both horses are conditioned by D. J. Millner.

“My hip still hurts and I’m all bandaged up (his arm and elbow) but I’m happy to be back,” Cummings said in the paddock before the start of the races.

Leaving from post-seven in the weekly trotting feature Cummings had Australian Stock quickly on the lead after an eighth of a mile but yielded the front to last weeks open trot winner, Jack Sparrow, and Jim McNeight. Not content with second, Cummings  moved Australian Stock back to the front at the three-eighths and trotted home strongly to the wire to score in 1:58.4. Jack Sparrow was a 1-1/2 lengths back in second and Manfromnantucket (Jack Flanigen) finished farther back in third.

“He’s razor sharp right now, once I got him back on the lead I didn’t think they would beat him, DJ’s done a nice job with him,” Cummings said in the Winners Circle.

The victory was the seventh of the season for Australian Stock, a 5-year-old son of Angus Hall. He raised his 2009 earnings to over $45,000 for owner David Slyman of Ohio.

Ima a Cricket Also, parlayed a perfect trip into a 10-1 upset score in the co-feature. Firing out of the gate from post-eight, Cummings was able to drop in the two-hole as the field entered the Clubhouse turn. Sitting in the garden spot until the final turn, Cummings pulled the 7-year-old daughter of Armbro Laser to the outside and was up to challenge pace-setter Joe Page (Tom Agosti) at the top of the stretch. Down the lane, Ima a Cricket Also, powered away to a 1-1/2 length score over a closing Cade Callihan (Ray Fisher Jr.) in 1:59.3. Joe Page finished third.

“Batavia Downs Live”, the 3 ½ hour live television broadcast debuted Friday night in the Buffalo market on the Universal Sports network channel 114. The races are also available on Verizon Fios channel 460 and off-air with a digital converter on channel 2-2. The broadcast begins at 7:00.

The Batavia races also available in the Rochester market and surrounding counties on Time Warner channel 98. Please be advised the races will not be aired on Saturday night (Aug-15), on channel 98, the show returns on Monday night.

Todd Haight
Promotional Marketing Specialist
Batavia Downs Casino

Photo: Copyright 2009 Paul White. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Press Release:

BATAVIA, NY – Tonight marked the second Friday of Live Racing here at America’s Oldest Lighted Harness Track.  Patrons enjoyed a fine evening and an excellent card with two feature races of the best trotters in Western New York.  The first event was the ninth race on the card and open handicap trot, with the 3-1 morning line favorite and Yonkers invader Light Headed among the field.  The ninth had a purse of $9,000.  The second feature was the eleventh race, the open handicap II trot with a purse of $7,500.

Racing to victory in this evening’s first feature contest was Jack Sparrow with driver-trainer Jim McNeight at the controls, trotting to the mile in 1:59.2.  Behind for the place was Australian Shock and Kevin Cummings.  Zapphappy Kash with Clint Galbraith rounded out the money for the open trot.  Jack Sparrow took the early lead and only gave it up briefly just after the ¼ pole but gained back control quickly in time to do the ½ in 1:00.1.  Jack Sparrow led the way to the wire and held off Australian Shock after a late surge from the pocket coming down the final stretch to give Jim McNeight a driving double.  Michael Callmeri of Falconer, NY, owns this 6-year-old chestnut gelding by Humorous Harry.  The winning mutuel price was $6.00.

Taking tonight’s open II trot at the wire was Manfromnantucket with Jack Flanigen in the sulky.  The duo trotted the mile in 2:01.2, with Ima Cricket Also and Kevin Cummings in for the place.  Roy and Steven Lindell completed the generous $887.00 trifecta.  Ima Cricket Also led the way and began to see a surging Manfromnantucket after the ¾ pole and Kevin Cummings could not hold off the fast closing Manfromnantucket at the wire.  Manfromnantucket is a 4year-old gelding by Giant Hit.  He is owned by trainer Allan McCarty of Hamburg owns him.  Tonight’s winning mutuel price for the eleventh race was $36.20.

The 2009 meet at Batavia Downs Casino will continue this Saturday evening.  Be sure to come out this as we celebrate the career of famed double-gaited gelding and world record setter Excalibur by rolling back prices on Zweigles hot dogs and soda to just 50 cents each!  These special prices are valid anytime between 5:30 and 10:30 PM in the Paddock Room. Thrilling harness racing action gets underway 7:05p.m. 

Jeff Rizzo, Marketing Intern
jrizzo@westernotb.com

Press Release:

BATAVIA, NY – It was a fine summer night in Western New York for harness racing, and an even better night for driver Tom Agosti as he drove home the first four contests on the Wednesday night program. 

This evening’s feature event was the tenth race on the card, an Open pace for fillies and mares with a purse of $9,000.

Hitting the wire first in the weekly distaff feature was the 8/5 favorite Jezzabell Hotspur with Chris Page at the lines, pacing to the mile in 1:57.1 for her 11th win of the season.  In for the place was Pauline Seelster with Tom Agosti in the sulky to complete the $19.20 exacta.  Spacie Jessie and James Dunn came in for the show for her 2009 Batavia Downs Debut .The fractions for Jezzabell Hotspur were 28.1, 58.4, and 1:28, respectively.  Jezzabell Hotspur led wire-to-wire, with driver Chris Page having to ask for more speed around the final turn as Pauline Seelster and Spacie Jessie closed in, but she had enough to stay on top for the win..  Jezzabell Hotspur is a 7-year-old mare by Anthony P.  Betty Tauber of East Brunswick, NJ owns her.  Sherri Holliday is the trainer.  The winning $2 mutuel price was $5.20.

Jeff Rizzo, Marketing Intern
jrizzo@westernotb.com

Picture: Jezzabell Hotspur with Chris Page holding on in Downs feature.