harness racing

Photo of Gia’s Surreal with driver John Cummings Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

After being narrowly defeated in this same class last week, the lightly regarded Gia’s Surreal went from worst to first for her 10^th win of the year in the $12,500 fillies and mares Open I Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 30). 

Blue Bell Bonnie (Dave McNeight III) took the lead and played hardball with the heavily favored Little Joke (Billy Davis Jr.), parking the latter to the half in :56.1. As the field made its way around the third turn they were in two-rows with Gia’s Surreal (John Cummings Jr.) sixth and last at the pegs. 

When the race passed the five-eighths pole, Cummings hit the gas and tipped Gia’s surreal three-wide to the three-quarters, circling the field and finally taking the lead at the head of the stretch. With Blue Bell Bonnie still a force at the pylons, Cummings rocked and knocked Gia’s Surreal all the way down to the wire where she won by one-half length in 1:55.1. 

On the strength of the win, Gia’s Surreal ($17.80) pushed her earnings to $93,244 for owners Jim Graham, Edward Peron, Lee Winters and Thomas Mariano. Graham also train the filly. 

There were no surprises in the $11,000 fillies and mares Open II as Protect Blue Chip (Billy Davis Jr.) returned from a three-month layoff to go gait to wire handily in 1:55. Going off the post time choice, Protect Blue Chip ($3.20) won by two-lengths for owners Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Adelphi Bloodstock. Maria Rice trains the winner. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Nov. 1) with post time at 6 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

On Wednesday (Oct. 30) there is a carryover of $1,381 and a guaranteed pool of $5,000 for the Pick-5 wager that day.

The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are available courtesy of Trackmaster on the USTA’s website or by direct download by clicking here.

The Pick-5 wager begins in race one and runs through race five. It is a 50-cent base wager and if all five winners aren’t selected, the carryover amount will move to the Friday (Nov. 1) program.

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

Photo of Black Is Back with driver Dave McNeight III.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

It was a simple plan for Black Is Back. Take the lead, steal the half and cruise home for the win. And that's exactly what he did in the $12,500 Open I Handicap pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 26). 

Black Is Back (Dave McNeight III) left unchallenged and set early fractions of :27.3 and :57 flat to the half. Down On My Luck (Drew Monti) was in the breeze first-over at that point and continued to gain ground on the leader up the backstretch and to the three-quarters. 

As they headed around the far turn and into the stretch Down On My Luck was pacing hard and trying to make up the 1-½ length deficit, but Black Is Back was the better horse this night and hung on for the win by one-length in 1:53.4. 

It was the 10th win of the year for Black Is Back ($3.10) who has now earned $75,050 for owners Curtis Edholm and Mihajlo Zdjelar Sr.; Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. does the training.

The $11,000 Open II Handicap pace saw I’m So Handsome (Denny Bucceri) leave from post one, slow the half to :58.2 and then come home in back to back :28.2 quarters to hold off a fast closing Sir Pugsley (Drew Monti) and win by a length in 1:55.

I’m So Handsome ($10.80) scored his sixth win of the year for owner Mike Torcello and trainer Gerry Sarama. 

The $10,000 Open III pace turned an unexpectedly fast mile when Charmbo Orbit (Denny Bucceri) drafted third for a half before pulling first-over heading to the three-quarters to run down the leading Thisjetsabookin (Dave McNeight III) and hold off a late rush from Brunello N (Drew Monti) in the stretch to win by a neck in 1:53.4.

It was a new seasonal mark for Charmbo Orbit ($21.20) who is owned by Keith Pinkowski and trained by Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. 

Those back to back wins for Denny Bucceri were two of the three he won on the card, giving him a hat trick for the evening. Drew Monti also won three races on Saturday night. 

With no Pick-5 winner on Saturday, there is a $1,381 carryover and a $5,000 guaranteed pool will be offered on the Pick-5 wager on Wednesday (Oct. 30) when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon at 5 p.m.

The guaranteed pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering program and as such, there will be free program pages for races one through five available on the USTA website starting this morning (Oct. 27).

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

After winning in impressive style from post one in the track’s feature trot last week, Joey Pro moved out to post eight through assignment this week and won again in the $12,500 Open I Handicap trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Oct. 25). 

Joey Pro (Renaldo Morales III) left from the outside gate and finally took the top from CR Blazin Beauty (John Cummings Jr.) by the quarter in :28.1. But right after he cleared, CR Blazin Beauty came right back from second on the give and go to take command once again. The group then went with positions unchanged to the half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:27.

Rounding the last turn CR Blazin Beauty was still trotting strong on the point but Morales tipped Joey Pro out and started rolling down the center of the track. Joey Pro was in full flight and gaining ground with every stride and got the advantage under the wire where he won by ½ length in 1:57.2. 

It was the 13th win of the year for Joey Pro ($15.40) who has now earned $72,580 this year for owner Mark Wamp. John Hallett trains the winner.

In the $11,000 Open II Handicap trot Rockefeller Lindy (Jim Morrill Jr.) drafted along third for most of the mile until finding his way clear in the stretch and out-sprinting the leading Arnold (Dave McNeight III) to the wire to win by three lengths in 1:58. 

It was the first Batavia Downs win for Rockefeller Lindy ($3.10) who is owned by the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. James Clouser Jr. is the conditioner.

Several horsemen had multiple win nights on Friday. Drivers included Billy Davis Jr. with three and Jim Morrill Jr., Dave McNeight III and Mike Baumeister with two apiece. Training leaders were Per Henriksen, Ron Baumeister and Rock C. Vinci who all doubled up. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Oct. 26) at 6 o'clock.

Photo of HP Sissy with driver Drew Monti.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

She went on tour for two weeks an won an upper class conditioned race at Yonkers Raceway in the process, but HP Sissy proved that there is no place like home and after winning her now third straight $12,500 fillies and mares Open I Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Oct. 23). 

HP Sissy (Drew Monti) and Gia’s Surreal (Jim Morrill Jr.) played give and take with the lead to the :27.4 quarter before “Sissy” came back out to reclaim the lead again past that station and this time, it was for good. With the short but select field of five followers in single-file pursuit, HP Sissy cruised through fractions of :57.4 and 1:26.3 with the greatest of ease.

Coming off the far turn, Gia’s Surreal pulled the pocket she occupied throughout the mile and took her best shot at the leader. But with no more than a reminder from Monti, HP Sissy paced strong through the lane and won by a measured length in 1:55.4. 

Having the year of her life, HP Sissy ($4.10) registered her 13^th win of the year and boosted her earnings to $109,493 for owner Finocchario’s Dream Stable and trainer Mike Ohol. 

The $11,000 fillies and mares Open II Handicap pace saw Who’s Got The Move (Dave McNeight III) turn a garden-spot trip behind Machin Marley (Billy Davis Jr.) into a neck victory at the wire over her cover in a time of 1:56.4. Although she set a lifetime mark last week and drew post one here, Who’s Got The Move returned a surprising $19.80 for the win. The 5-year-old Shadyshark Hanover mare is owned by Richard and Lynn Fisher, who also trains the winner. 

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. Was red hot on Wednesday, getting the Grand Slam on the card. Morrill won with Magdalana Royalty (2:02.1, $5.40), Jus Chillin It (2:00.1, $21), Lyra (1:57.3, $5) and Southfield Spirit (2:00.4, $10). 

Morrill, who is in second place in the dash win category behind Billy Davis Jr., closed the gap with those four wins and is now only 14 behind with 27 nights of racing left. Morrill has a Universal Driver Rating (UDR) of .404 for the meet and has already broken the track record for earnings by a driver in a single season at Batavia Downs with over $880,000 banked this meet. 

There was no winner of the Pick-5 on Wednesday and as a result, there is a $916 carryover and a guaranteed $3,000 pool for the Pick-5 on Friday (Oct. 25) when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs. Post time on Friday is 6 p.m.

Photo of Down On My Luck in front, driven by Drew Monti.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Drew Monti was on top of his game Saturday night (Oct. 19) at Batavia Downs, winning five races on the card including the weekly pacing feature with Down On My Luck who moved up to the top class $12,500 Open I Handicap after taming the Open II pacers in handy fashion last week.

Down On My Luck took back to fifth while Tullow N (John Cummings Jr.) and Mr. Euroman (Billy Davis Jr.) fought hard for the lead, parked two-wide to the quarter in :27.2 and the half in :56.1. Monti pulled there and Down On My Luck was now second-over in the breeze following Mr. Euroman, who had been out the entire mile. 

Tullow N was still rolling on the point and hit three-quarters in 1:24.3 and it was there Down On My Luck tipped three-wide around the tiring Mr. Euroman. Black Is Back (Dave McNeight III) was also three-deep in the flow and was now in play for the stretch run. When the race came off the turn, Down On My Luck took the lead by a length but Black Is Back was closing fast behind him. Positions remained unchanged to the wire and Down On My Luck won by a quarter-length in 1:53.4. 

It was the fifth win in six Batavia Downs starts this meet for Down On My Luck ($5.50) who is owned by Robert Woodburn and is trained by Patrick Shepherd.  

Monti completed his five win night with Cultural Paradise (1:54.4, $11), Howmac Dancer (1:55.1, $4.20), Brunello N (1:55, $7.30) and Cheyenne Louie (1:57.2, $5.30). 

Fool Me Once (Renaldo Morales III) won the $11,000 Open II pace after leaving from post eight to lead at every station en route to a 1:55.2 victory. It was the fifth win of the year for the overlooked Fool Me Once ($26.80) who is owned by Triple S Equine and trained by Patrick Shepherd. 

Billy Davis Jr. and Renaldo Morales III each had driving triples on Saturday while trainers Patrick Shepherd, JD Perrin and Maria Rice all had two victories each. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 23) at 5 p.m.

(Photo of Joey Pro with driver John Cummings Jr.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

After stringing three straight wins at the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono prior to finishing sixth chasing a 1:52.3 mile last week, Joey Pro ventured north to Batavia Downs and ran away with the $12,500 Open I Handicap trot on Friday night (Oct. 18). 

BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) rushed off the gate for the lead and looked like he would go unchallenged for a while. But Joey Pro (John Cummings Jr.) who was now third, was quickly pulled and brushed to the front in a :28 first quarter and then opened up a gapped 2-½ length lead rounding the second bend. The chasing field stayed in single file trying to keep up with Joey Pro who went to the half in :56.3 and three-quarters in 1:25.3.

Joey Pro was 3-½ lengths on top heading into the last turn and the only horse with a shot was Wheels A Turning (Denny Bucceri) who had distinguished himself from the trailing pack and continued his chase down the lane. But the best he would do this night was second as Joey Pro was the best in here and won by 2-¼ lengths in 1:56.1.

It was the 12th win of the year for Joey Pro ($4.80) who has now banked $66,330 for owner Mark Wamp. John Hallett trains the winner. 

In the $11,000 Open II trot, Keystone Apache (Billy Davis Jr.) dropped down for the top class and toured the facility on the point from gate to wire and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.2. Keystone Apache ($12.40) snared his ninth win of the season for owner Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Adelphi Bloodstock. Maria Rice trains the winner.

John Cumming Jr. and BIlly Davis Jr. both had driving triples on Friday. Trainer Dave Russo led all conditioners with two victories. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Oct. 19) at 6 o'clock.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Three-year-old Gia’s Surreal had been a solid campaigner all year on the New York Sire Stake circuit, culminating that series with a second-place finish in the Excelsior “A” final in September. Since that start the filly has won three straight races in overnights against aged mares and on Monday (Oct. 14) knocked off the track's top class, the $12,000 Open Handicap pace for fillies and mares at Batavia Downs.

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. left fast with Gia’s Surreal and led the ladies to the quarter in :27.4 and the half in :57.2. As the race proceeded onto the second circuit, Little Joke (Billy Davis Jr.) and Kaitlyn Rae (Mike Caprio) moved up on the rim to apply some pressure and pushed a fast :28.2 split to the three-quarters.

But Gia’s Surreal, who had maintained a 1-1/4 length lead the entire race, stayed stout and kept to her business which was turning back all challengers and pacing home strong to win in 1:55.  

Gia’s Surreal ($3.10) scored her ninth win in 19 starts this year and pushed her stake-enhanced earnings to $83,869 for owners Jim Graham, Edward Peron, Lee Winters and Thomas Mariano. Jim Graham trains the filly. 

Gia’s Surreal was one of three wins for Jim Morrill Jr. on Monday. Billy Davis Jr. also got the driving hat trick on the card. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 18) at 6 p.m. There is no racing this Wednesday (Oct. 16) due to today’s special matinee card.

Mr. Euroman had a two-month vacation this summer before the start of the Batavia Downs meet and since returning to action in late August, has won four out of his eight starts in Genesee County. The most recent win came on Saturday night (Oct. 12) in the $12,500 Open Handicap pace at the Downs. 

Leaving from post one, Mr. Euroman (Billy Davis Jr.) watched as Sir Pugsley (Drew Monti) fired off the gate and took command of the race heading around the first turn. With the field in single file, Sir Pugsley went down to the half in :57 before stepping up the pace to the three-quarters with a :27.3 split. Mr. Euroman was the beneficiary of cover to this point of the race and continued to trip-out to the top of the stretch. Davis pulled the pocket at the head of the lane with Mr. Euroman and out-dueled Sir Pugsley to the wire to win by one-half length in 1:53.2.

It was the seventh win of the year for Mr. Euroman ($16.00) who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags, Jack Rice and Adelphi Bloodstock and is trained by Maria Rice.

There were a pair of $11,000 Open II races on the card that both provided some stellar performances. 

(Photo above: Down On My Luck with driver Drew Monti in the lead.)

The first split saw Down On My Luck (Drew Monti) get away third before pulling first-over at the three-eighths, clear the leading Barry Hanover (Dave McNeight III) by the three-quarters and then pull away to an easy 2-¼ length win in 1:53.3. Down On My Luck ($3.10) is having a career year for owner Robert Woodburn, now with eight wins and $47,867 in earnings. Patrick Shepherd trains the winner.

(Above photo: What’s Goin On with John Cummings Jr. out in front.)

In the second division, What’s Goin On (John Cummings Jr.) sat second behind the pace-setting Rise Up Now (Shawn McDonough) from the start until the top of the stretch where he found room on the pylons and shot through like a rocket to out-pace four other fast finishers and win by one-half length in 1:54.4. What’s Going On ($8.70) now also has eight wins this year and $65,821 earned for owners Marissa and Joe Russo. David Russo does the conditioning. 

Drew Monti scored a driving triple to lead all drivers on Saturday while John Cumming Jr. and Renaldo Morales III scored two wins apiece. Trainer Patrick Shepherd also sent three horses to the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle while James Clouser Jr. and Joe Skowyra each watched two of their stable win during the night 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs with the final matinee card of the year on Monday (Oct. 14) with the annual Columbus Day special. Post time for the first race is 1:15 p.m.

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.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Tonight (Oct. 12) the Pick-5 pool at Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel will be guaranteed at $6,000.

The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are available courtesy of Trackmaster on the USTA’s website or by direct download by clicking here.

The Pick-5 wager begins in race one and runs through race five. It is a 50-cent base wager and if all five winners aren’t selected, the carryover amount will move to the Monday program.

Post time for the first race is at 6 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Despite two consecutive impressive starts yielding a win and a second, the betting public opted to overlook Media Queen N as she made a step up in class on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 9). But the lass from down-under made the doubters eat their tickets as she rallied from off the pace at 33-1 to capture the $11,000 fillies and mares Open II pace at Batavia Downs. 

Rock N Roll Rosie (Howard Parker) was the commander of fractions from the start and led the ladies to the half in a quick :55.3 while parking Mach’s Echo (Denny Bucceri) in the process. Media Queen N (Dave McNeight III) pulled third-over behind Kaitlyn Rae (Mike Caprio) past the half and then tipped three-deep around her and the now back-peddling Mach’s Echo at the three-quarters. 

As the race headed into the stretch, Rock N Roll Rosie had the lead on the pins, Kaitlyn Rae was second out and Media Queen N was still three-high. They straightened out down the lane and the three paced in unison until McNeight got Media Queen N in front and she prevailed in 1:55.1. 

It was the eighth win of the year for Media Queen N ($69.50) who is owned by Daniel Goehle and trained by Angel Nappo. 

The $10,000 fillies and mares Open III saw Gia’s Surreal (Jim Morrill Jr.) lead every step of the way in a gate to wire victory timed in 1:55.1. The 3-year-old filly that raced on the New York Sire Stake circuit this summer scored her eighth win of the year and pushed her earnings to $77,869 for owners Jim Graham, Edward Peron, Lee Winters and Thomas Mariano. Jim Graham trains the winner. 

Shawn McDonough and Ray Fisher Jr. were the top drivers and Pat Galbraith best trainer for the night, each getting two wins apiece. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 11) with post time at 6 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

With the final matinee card of racing at Batavia Downs coming up on Columbus Day (Monday, Oct. 14) and no racing the following Wednesday (Oct. 16), horsemen are advised of the following changes in the draw schedule for the upcoming week. 

The draw for Friday (Oct. 11) will be held on Tuesday (Oct. 8).

The draw for Saturday (Oct. 12) will be held on Wednesday (Oct. 9). 

The draw for Columbus Day Monday (Oct. 14) will be held on Thursday (Oct. 10). 

The draw for Friday (Oct. 18) will be held on Tuesday (Oct. 15). 

The draw for Saturday (Oct. 19) will be held on Wednesday (Oct. 16). 

The box closes at 9 a.m. for all draws. Questions can be directed to Race Secretary Joe Zambito at 585-344-6161. 

Please see the new condition sheet for further information. 

Saturday night (Oct. 5) will be one that Oakfield native Mike Caprio will never forget because he captured his career milestone 2,000th driving win with his own prized trotter BZ Glide in the featured $12,500 Brian Schroeder Memorial Trot at Batavia Downs. 

After a two-month summer vacation and one qualifier back, BZ Glide left from the pylons and cut fractions of :28, :58.3 and 1:28.1 before turning for home and holding off all challengers under a line drive by Caprio to win in a season's best 1:57.4. 

The win was a true family affair as BZ Glide ($5.40) is owned by the Caprio Stable and is trained by Mike Caprio's wife, Alana. 

Caprio got his driver’s license in 1981 and has been competing full time ever since. His first driving successes came behind two main horses; his father Joe Caprio’s prized pacer Prosecutor and a horse he owned with his dad, Connecticut Glove. 

Prosecutor (Flying Bret-Chuck’s Maid 1:59.3, $104,902) was a 58-time winner lifetime and a top-class pacer in Western New York for many years, winning 39 of those races on that circuit with the younger Caprio at the lines. 

Connecticut Glove (Bullet Hanover-Congress Glove 2:00.3, $211,261) was a hard-knocking overnighter who won 43 races lifetime, 20 of which had Caprio in tow. 

Since the early years Caprio has owned 57 horses and had much success with many of them, but the one that stands out as the shining star of his career was his 2,000th winning drive, BZ Glide.

BZ Glide (Yankee Glide-Bloomer Zoomer 1:56.1, $339,847) was purchased as a 2-year-old by Caprio and his wife Alana and they developed him into one of the best Open class trotters to ever compete in Western New York. Now 10-years-old, BZ Glide has won 45 races with Caprio at the helm and has been the cornerstone of their operation during that time. 

Caprio has also been responsible for much of the driving success of another Western New York 56-time winning star, Fireyourguns (American Ideal-Villa Hanover 1:47.3, $406,886) who is trained by Terence Mc CLory. 

Besides driving his own horses, Caprio has always been a very popular catch driver throughout his career. As a result he has scored 2,000 wins out of 14,904 starts with 1,829 seconds and 1,839 thirds and has earnings of $4,942,824. His highest earnings year was 1989 ($251,170) and he scored his most wins in 1988 (129).

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

A pair of $9,000 claiming/conditioned trots topped the card at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Oct. 4) and the winner of each took a different route to victory. 

Call My Broker (Jim Morrill Jr.) took full advantage of his pylon post position and seated the field off the gate. Then, after cutting moderate fractions of :28.4, :59.3 and 1:29.1, Morrill kept Call My Broker rolling down the lane and held off the pocket-sitting Barn Winner (Ray Fisher Jr.) to win by three quarters of a length in 1:58.3. 

Call My Broker ($3.60) scored his fourth win of the year for owner Frank Meier and trainer Angelo Nappo. 

Later in the other division, Alert Hanover (Shawn McDonough) started from post two and opted to stay there, taking the garden spot trip behind Golden Tate (Jim Morrill Jr.) from the start to the top of the lane where Golden Tate made a break he did not recover from. McDonough directed his horse around the off-stride trotter and cruised home on top by a length, also in 1:58.3.

Winning his fourth race of the year as well, Alert Hanover ($6.80) was owned by Carl Kuepfer and trained by Patrick Shepherd until the race ended when he was claimed. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on today (Oct. 5) with post time at 6 p.m.

Although the weather turned decidedly cooler after the rain on tonight (Oct. 2) in Western New York, driver Drew Monti was red hot at Batavia Downs as he won six races on the card, including a natural Grand Slam in races three to six. 

Monti visited the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle with A J Cash (2:01, $2.70), Rock N Roll Rosie (1:57.3, $8.40), Our Art And Heaven (1:59.2, $4.60), Cracked Glass (1:58.4, $9.10), Terlingua (1:56.3, $19.60) and Tymal Luckynpink (1:57.2, $3.90). 

Monti hit the board with a second and a third as well giving him a .530 Universal Driver Rating (UDR) for the night. 

Over the last six race nights at Batavia Downs, Monti has been the winningest driver on the grounds with 10 victories in 33 starts giving him a win percentage of 30 percent, and including his five seconds and four thirds, he has a UDR of .428 during that same time.

The feature race for the night was the $12,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap that saw Little Joke (Billy Davis Jr.) leave from post seven to take the lead and keep it throughout the mile and win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:56.1. 

It was the seventh win of the year for Little Joke ($15) who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags Stable and Jack Rice. Maria Rice trains the winner. 

Davis had two more winners on the card beside the feature giving him a driving hat trick as well. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 4) with post time at 6 p.m.

(Photo of Drew Monti courtesy of Steve Roth.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Saturday (Sept. 28) marked the halfway point of the 2019 Batavia Downs harness racing season and all indicators are showing so far, it has been one of the best in the track’s history.  

The on-track handle up 15.1 percent, the export handle is up 26.1 percent, OTB handle is up 8.7 percent and total betting from all sources associated with Western Regional OTB is up 20.5 percent or $820,609.

“The numbers are very impressive, but the product has been as well,” said Todd Haight, director/general manager of Live Racing at Batavia Downs. “Our overnight racing has been very competitive and we’ve had many guaranteed pools in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program which draw bettors from all over to follow our track.

"And our New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Night of Champions was the jewel of the season and it has exposed many new local people to our sport as a result.” 

Many horses have set seasonal or lifetime marks at Batavia since the meet started, plus seven new track records have already been set since July. Trotters Hypnotic Am, Quincy Blue Chip, Third Shift and CR Blazin Beauty along with pacers Hickfromfrenchlick, American Mercury and Cigars And Port account for those new track standards. 

There were also two stake records broken by Hypnotic Am and Third Shift during the NYSS Night of Champions. 

At this point of the season Billy Davis Jr. is the leading driver with 63 wins, Jim Morrill Jr. is second with 58 and Dave McNeight III is third with 46.

On the training side, James Clouser Jr. is on top with 37 wins, Maria Rice is second with 20 and David Russo sits third with 17. 

There is a tie for the winningest horse between Blue Bell Bonny and Tullow N who each have visited Purple Haze Winner’s Circle five times. 

The Batavia Downs meet will continue this afternoon (Oct. 2) with post time at 5 p.m. and runs through Saturday (Dec. 15) with a Wednesday, Friday, Saturday schedule. Post time for Wednesdays is at 5 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays are at 6 p.m. There is one remaining Monday meet, which is Columbus Day (Oct. 14) with an early post of 1:15 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

A torrential rainstorm rolled into Genesee County just prior to post time and downgraded conditions to sloppy before the first race ever hit the track. But the inclement weather and less than desirable track conditions did not prevent Tullow N from imposing his will on his foes in winning the $12,500 Open Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 28).

Tullow N (John Cummings Jr.) was the only leaver in the feature and Cummings took full advantage of his position. After settling onto the lead, he backed the quarter down to a pedestrian :29 flat and then further throttled-down to a :59.2 half as everyone refused to pull. 

As soon as they entered the third turn, Cummings hit the gas and Tullow N looked more like himself. With a two-length gapped advantage he got to the three-quarters in 1:27.3, swung around the last turn and then just paced away in the lane to win by three in 1:56.

It was the seventh win of the year and fifth of the Batavia meet for Tullow N ($5.90) and owner Blindswitch Racing. Dave Russo trains the winner.

Russo had another training win earlier in the night with Reiki ($4.20) who he also drove in the Billings Amateur Pace. 

In the $11,000 Open II pace, Mr. Euroman N (Billy Davis Jr.) went right to the front and never looked back. After cutting fractions of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.3, Davis rounded the last turn on cruise control and let Mr. Euroman N fly home in 1:55 on top by a 1-½ length margin. It was the second win in a row for Mr. Euroman N ($3.40) who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Adelphi Bloodstock. Maria Rice trains the winner.  

Drew Monti, Shawn Gray, John Cummings Jr. and Billy Davis Jr. all had driving doubles on the card. Trainer Patrick Shepherd had two wins on the training side. Since last Saturday, Shepherd is the hottest trainer at the Downs, winning nine races in only 17 starts. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 2) with post time at 5 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Tonight (Sept. 28) the Pick-5 at Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel has a carryover pool of $3,202 will be guaranteed at $7,500.

The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are available courtesy of Trackmaster on the USTA’s website or by direct download by clicking here.

The Pick-5 wager begins in race one and runs through race five. It is a 50-cent base wager and if all five winners aren’t selected, the carryover amount will then move to the Wednesday (Oct. 2) program.

Saturday’s first five races that comprise the Pick-5 wager include the Open II and Open III paces and the Billings Amateur pace. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m.