harness racing

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations:

Horsemen racing at Batavia Downs are reminded of draw schedule changes for Thanksgiving week.

A double draw will take place on Tuesday (Nov. 24) for races cards on to be held on Friday (Nov. 27) and Saturday (Nov. 28). The entry box will close at the normal time of 9 a.m. You must also enter horses for Wednesday's qualifiers on Tuesday (Nov. 24) by 10 a.m.  

All program information, including driver changes, must be submitted to the judges by 2 p.m. on Tuesday (Nov. 24).

Qualifying races will remain at the regular time of 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25.

There are 12 more race cards remaining in the 2015 season that concludes on Dec. 12. Post time for all remaining cards will be 6:15 p.m.

For more information please visit the horsemen's link at www.bataviadownsgaming.com

Western Alumni and driver Ray Fisher Jr., photo courtesy of Paul White.

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

The weather was clear but Western Alumni made it rain Saturday night (Nov. 14) at Batavia Downs when he went worst-to-first at 12-1 in the field of seven to capture the $10,000 Open pace feature.

It was a jailbreak off the gate as Adversary Seelster (Ron Beback Jr.), Jokerman (Jim McNeight) and post time favorite Cobble Beach (Kevin Cummings) went three deep for the first two furlongs, tripping the timer in :26.4. The field settled itself just in time for Western Alumni (Ray Fisher Jr.) to pull from seventh and start his outside trek towards the leader.

At the half, Button Fly (Shawn McDonough) pulled out in front of Western Alumni and provided a windshield for him to the top of the lane. From there, Western Alumni tipped three-deep and Fisher proceeded to rock-n-knock to a length victory over a fast-closing Best Ears (Jack Flanigen) in 1:54.3.

It was the fifth win of the year for Western Alumni ($26.20), pushing his earnings to $49,986 for 2015. Jerry Nugent Jr. trains the 7-year-old Western Hanover gelding for North Creek Racing LLC.

Trainer JD Perrin widened his lead as the top dash-winning trainer of the meet by sending four horses to the winner’s enclosure. Barn stars for the night included Dancin Thea ($8.40), Meadowlandcampbell E ($2.50), Youwillwishyouhad ($2.50) and Veto Hanover ($5.00). Drivers Drew Monti, Kevin Cummings, Jim McNeight and Ray Fisher Jr. all won two races.

Live racing at Batavia Downs resumes on Wednesday night (Nov. 18) with post time at 6:15.

Studio City (#3) with driver Dave McNeight III pullls ahead to win the Open trot Friday night at Batavia Downs. Photo courtesy of Paul White.

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations:

Racing brave in a first-over trip, lightly regarded Studio City ($19.80) scored his second straight top-class win, taking the $10,000 Open trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Nov. 13).

After Curious George (Jack Flanigen) directed the field to a :28.4 quarter, Studio City (Dave McNeight III) pulled first-over at three-eighths and started his march to the front. The outer flow continued to grow as Write That Down (Shawn McDonough) joined the fray in a :59.1 half.

When the group hit three-quarters, Studio City and Curious George were neck and neck before Write That Down tipped three-deep around the last turn and Justgottogetthere (Ron Beback Jr.) found room in the passing lane. The quartet battled four-abreast all the way down the lane with Studio City getting up to photo out Justgottogetthere in 1:59.2. Write That Down finished third.

Two heads and a neck separated the top four finishers of the race.

It was the fifth win of the year for Studio City and pushed the 2015 earnings of the 6-year-old Conway Hall gelding to $50,407 for owners Scott Woogen and Lisa Denison. Lisa Lederhouse trains the winner.

Sean McDonough continued to be the hottest driver on the grounds, winning four races on Friday. That moved him in to third place among the locals for dash wins this meet. The leader in that race, Kevin Cummings, had a driving double along with Ron Beback Jr. and Dave McNeight III.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Nov. 14) with post time set at 6:15 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Before returning last week, Little Santamonica hadn’t competed at Batavia Downs since early in the 2014 meet when she won back to back Open distaff races. It took her a week, but she regained her old form at the Genesee County oval on Wednesday night (Nov. 11) in winning the $10,000 Open mares pace.

Little Santamonica (Shawn McDonough) took a seat early and watched as three-straight winner, Memumsnotnice (Kevin Cummings), battle her way to the lead in a swift :27 quarter over a track rated “good." Then as she has done for the past three weeks, Memumsnotnice proceeded to lead the field by a loose two lengths en route to tripping the three-quarters in 1:25.3.

At the top of the last turn, Ding (Jack Flanigen) took her best shot, getting almost alongside the leader. But that advance gave Little Santamonica (who had been locked in fourth) just enough room to swing off the pylons and tip three deep. From there, McDonough needed little urging as the mare flew down the lane past the leader to win in 1:55.3.

It was the tenth win of the season for Little Santamonica ($7.40) and the winner’s share of the purse boosted her annual earnings to $79,735 for owner Jordan Hope, who also trains the mare.

Shawn McDonough scored the natural driving hat trick in races five through seven with Enzo Seelster ($13.80), Red Clay ($2.70) and Little Santamonica ($7.40). Kevin Cummings, Ron Beback Jr. and Jim McNeight also scored driving doubles.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Nov. 13) with post time at 6:15 p.m.

(Cobble Beach with driver Jack Flanigen, photo courtesy of Paul White.)

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Not one to be camera shy, Cobble Beach took the overland-route to capture another $9,000 Open pace feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Nov. 7).

Sent off as the 3-2 favorite, Cobble Beach was taken to the back of the pack by driver Jack Flanigen at the start of the race as a contentious battle for the lead was staged between Button Fly (Shawn McDonough) and FB Seelster (Dave McNeight III). The latter took command before the group completed the first circuit in :57.2.

Cruising past five-eighths, If It Rains (Kevin Cummings) pulled first-over and brought Cobble Beach with him in tow. After the herd hit three-quarters in 1:26.4, If It Rains went by FB Seelster around the far turn and Cobble Beach passed If It Rains in the lane to take the lead and the race in 1:55.3.

It was the tenth win of the season for Cobble Beach ($5.10) and his best single-year earnings total continued to rise to $78,680 for owner Leonard Segall. James Clouser Jr. trains the 5-year-old Artiscape gelding.

The red-hot Jack Flanigen has been on a tear of late and Saturday was no exception. Flanigen bagged a quintuplet of victories and lit up the tote board in the process with Stirling Cadillac ($36.80), Cobble Beach ($5.10), Best Ears ($8.80), Peter Pumpkineater ($2.60) and Reachinforthestars ($11.40).

Kevin Cummings, Jim McNeight and Ron Beback Jr. also had driving doubles. Trainers JD Perrin and Maria Rice both sent two starters to the winner’s circle.

The $2,004 Pick-5 carry-over pool provided one lucky bettor a $4,700 payout for a .50-cent bet Saturday after he cashed in his 6-1-6-1-1 winning ticket.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night with the first post set for 6:15.

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Studio City made a beeline for the lead and took no prisoners once that position as acheived, en route to victory in the $8,500 Open I-II trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Nov. 6).

Dave McNeight III sent Studio City to the quarter in :28.4 before backing off the next panel to :31. The breather forced three horses to pull and attack going to the half, but only Diamonds For Life (Ron Beback Jr.) got even remotely close to the leader. Studio City fought off the challengers around the far turn and proceeded to pull away to a three-length victory in 1:58.4.

It was the fourth win of the year for Studio City ($8.80) and the purse pushed his earnings to $45,407 for owners Scott Woogen and Lisa Denison. Lisa Lederhouse trains the winner.

Several horsemen made multiple visits to the winner’s circle on Friday. Jack Flanigen had a driving triple while Kevin Cummings, Jim McNeight and Ray Fisher Jr. all registered doubles. On the training side, John Mungillo, Maria Rice and JD Perrin all sent two winners to post.

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Nov. 7), the Pick-5 carryover pool will be $2,004, which is the largest carryover pool of the 2015 season.

(Photo of Memumsnotnice with driver Ray Fisher Jr., courtesy of Paul White)

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

After winning two of her first four races of 2015 back in January and February, Memumsnotnice (Ray Fisher Jr.) went 0-for-21 the next eight months. But that drought ended in October and now the mare is riding a three-race win streak, all in Open mares company and all at Batavia Downs.

On Wednesday (Nov. 4), Memumsnotnice ($7.20) took the $10,000 distaff Open pace in the same dominating fashion she displayed the previous two weeks. After leaving from post five, she led by a loose two-lengths while cutting fractions of :28.2, :57.4 and 1:25.4 before cruising home unchallenged in 1:55. The winning time was a new seasonal mark.

In her last three starts, Memumsnotnice has led at every station and won those races by a combined seven lengths.

The winner’s share of Wednesday’s purse pushes Memumsnotnice's earnings to $42,568 for owners Thatsideofthefence, LLC, and John Mungillo, who also trains the 6-year-old Jereme’s Jet mare.

Kevin Cummings, Shawn McDonough, Jack Flanigen, Dave McNeight III and Ray Fisher Jr. all scored driving doubles Wednesday night.

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Nov. 6) at 6:15, the Pick-5 carryover will be $1,173. That is one of the largest carry-over pools of the season.

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

The last matinee card of the year at Batavia Downs was held on Saturday (Oct. 31) and featured the top-two pacing classes on the grounds and the performances turned in by the winner of each were equally impressive.

Cobble Beach (Jack Flanigen) shook off a couple fringe finishes and took no prisoners going wire to wire in the $10,000 Open pace in 1:54.4. It was the ninth win of 2015 for Cobble Beach ($7.70), which has become a career year for wins and earnings (now $74,180) for the 5-year-old Artiscape gelding. James Clouser Jr. trains Cobble Beach for owner Leonard Segall.

In the co-feature $8,400 Open II, Historian (Jim McNeight) took advantage of a two-hole trip behind FB Seelster (Dave McNeight III) and stalked the leader the entire mile before shooting up the passing lane in deep-stretch to garner victory by a mere head. Historian ($12.20) toured the course in 1:53.3, which was a new lifetime mark for the 5-year-old Stonebridge Regal gelding. Jack and Maria Rice own the winner with Maria Rice also doing the training.

Several horsemen made multiple trips to the winner's circle on Saturday. Kevin Cummings, Jim McNeight and Jack Flanigen all had driving triples while trainers Maria Rice, James Clouser Jr. and JD Perrin all sent two winners postward.

Arainna Brone, who was visiting Batavia Downs while home for the weekend from college, won the $4,000 pair of diamond earrings in the “Diamond of a Day” promotion sponsored by TAG Jewelers.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 4) with post time at 6:15 p.m.

(Photo of Arainna Brone with Tony Gruppo of TAG Jewelers, courtesy of Paul White.)

(Photo of Write That Down with reinsman Shawn McDonough, ocurtesy of Paul White.)

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Write That Down proved that last week’s Open II win was no fluke as he took on the best resident trotters Friday night (Oct. 30) and came out on top in the $9,500 Open trot at Batavia Downs.

When prohibitive post-time favorite Lutetium (Kevin Cummings) left from post six to take the lead, the rest of the field stood down and followed in post one-through-five order behind him. After a :28.1 quarter, the leader started to back-off the pace and that is when Write That Down (Shawn McDonough) pulled and started his move.

Slowly and methodically, Write That Down advanced on the outside and drew within a length of the leading Lutetium at three-quarters in a brisk 1:27.3. When the race rounded the last turn, these two separated themselves from the rest of the field; Lutetium at the pylons and Write That Down to his right flank. With both Cummings and McDonough rocking and knocking down the lane, Write That Down nosed out Lutetium at the wire in 1:57.2.

It was the seventh win of the year for Write That Down ($15.80) including three wins at Batavia Downs in only four starts here and his owners Scott Beecher and Daniel Seidberg have now banked $43,642 on account of the 4-year-old’s efforts. Jeff Sorenson trains Write That Down.

Ron Beback Jr. piloted three winners on the night and Jack Flanigen had two.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Oct. 31) with a special Breeders Cup matinee that gets under way at 1:15.

(Photo of Memumsnotnice with driver Ray Fisher Jr., courtesy of Paul White.)

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Experiencing the same inclement weather as most of the country on Wednesday night (Oct. 28), six top-class distaff side-wheelers went postward in the wind, rain and sloppy track conditions to compete in the $9,500 Open mares pace at Batavia Downs. And when all was said and done, Memumsnotnice dominated her peers once again.

Starting from post one for the fourth consecutive week, Memumsnotnice (Ray Fisher Jr.) briefly yielded the lead to Country Delight (Jack Flanigen) before retaking at the quarter. She then waltzed unchallenged to a :32 second quarter, unfazed by the river of mud underfoot.

While maintaining a solid three-length lead up to that point, Fisher let the mare out a notch and paced a quick :28.3 third panel in an attempt to put the girls away at that station. The ploy was successful and no one had an answer; Memumsnotnice left the field in her spray en route to a convincing, four-length victory.

It was the fourth win of the year (including second in a row) for Memumsnotnice ($4.90) and the spoils pushed her annual earnings to $37,568 for owners Thatsideofthefence, LLC, and John Mungillo, who also trains the mare.

Ray Fisher Jr. scored a driving triple Wednesday while Drew Monti, Dave McNeight III and Jack Flanigen all registered doubles. Trainers Jim Graham, Dave McNeight Jr. and James Clouser Jr. each sent two winners postward.

Racing resumes on Friday night (Oct. 30) with post time set at 6:15.

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Despite stiff competition and some very inclement weather, Jokerman had the last laugh Saturday night (Oct. 24) by winning the $9,500 Open pacing feature at Batavia Downs.

Western Alumni (Ron Beback Jr.) left hard and made it known he was going to cut the mile. And in kind, everyone then followed in post-position order. Past the quarter, Button Fly (Shawn McDonough) came first up and brought Cobble Beach (John Cummings Jr.) in tow. This left Jokerman (Jim McNeight) tucked in nicely, second at the pylons.

Positions remained basically the same through three-quarters and around the last turn. But as soon as they hit the stretch and the passing lane opened up, McNeight directed Jokerman into that gap and muscled his way to the lead and the win in 1:55. Western Alumni hung on for second with Cobble Beach rallying three-wide for show.

It was the ninth win of 2015 for Jokerman who has now earned $66,051 for the year. The 5-year-old American Ideal gelding is trained by Richard Roth, who co-owns with Robert Roth and Randy Roth.

The $8,400 Open II pace co-feature was one of the more entertaining races of the night. Lucky Nadotremblay (Kevin Cummings) and FB Seelster (Dave McNeight III) fought side-by-side, tooth, fang and claw for the front for almost three-quarters of the mile before Arrived Late (Shawn McDonough) tipped four-wide around them at that station to take the lead and open up by three. But he wasn’t safe as If It Rains (John Cummings Jr.) who was right behind him, tracked him down in the stretch to win by a length. Sent off at 16-1, If It Rains, made it rain, returning $35.80.

Jim McNeight scored a driving hat-trick while Kevin Cummings, Ron Beback Jr. and Jack Flanigen all registered doubles. Trainers Gerry Sarama, Alex Giuliani and Maria Rice each sent two winners to post as well.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Oct. 28) with the first post set for 6:15.

(Photo of Memumsnotnice with driver Ray Fisher Jr., courtesy of Paul White.)

Photo courtesy of Paul White

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

It’s not too often a horse jumps up in class and dictates the proceedings but that’s just what happened to Memumsnotnice in the $8,500 Open mares pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Oct. 21).

Leaving from post one for the third consecutive week, Memumsnotnice (Ray Fisher Jr.) took quick control of the front and led her minions by a loose two-lengths for the entire mile. After fractions of :29.1, :57.2 and 1:26.1, Fisher raised the lines, cracked the whip and enticed Memumsnotnice to open up a three-length lead and draw away at the wire in 1:55.1.  

It was the third victory of 2015 for Memumsnotnice and the winner’s share boosted her seasonal earnings to $32,818 for owners Thatsideofthefence, LLC, and John Mungillo, who also trains the winner.

Driving and training multiplicity ran rampant at Batavia Downs on Wednesday as Ray Fisher Jr. scored a driving hat trick on the card while Kevin Cummings and Jack Flanigen both copped doubles. Trainers John Mungillo and JD Perrin also both had two winners apiece.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 23) with post time set for 6:15 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations:

Starting on Wednesday (Oct. 21), Batavia Downs will move to a new, earlier post time of 6:15 p.m. for the remainder of the season. The only race date that will not start at that time is the final 1:15 matinee which will be held on Breeders Cup Saturday (Oct. 31).

Horsemen are advised to check the paddock and Lasix schedule for the new 6:15 starting time which is available on the Batavia Downs' Web site. They should also take note that all qualifying races for the rest of the meet will be held on Wednesdays at 4:45 p.m.

Racing fans coming to the track should take note that the gates will be open at 4:45 p.m. and the very popular Early Bird Daily Double (the bet that gives you $10 in gaming free-play when you wager $10 on the daily double) will be available in the Paddock Room only from 5-6 p.m.

With 45 days of racing completed, many great promotions have already been presented. But with 24 days of racing left, there is still much more fun yet to come.

Breeder’s Cup day (Oct. 31) will be one of the track’s biggest promotions of the entire year. Live harness racing starts at 1:15 and the races will be intermingled with each Breeder’s Cup event. The track will also offer a Breeder’s Cup Party package for only $20. Fans will receive a lunch buffet, a Breeders’ Cup program, a Batavia Downs program, an American Pharaoh T-shirt and $10 in gaming free-play. This is a $47 value.  

Also on Oct. 31, the track will present the “Diamond of a Day” give-away sponsored by TAG Jewelers (www.tagjewelers.com). Five customers will be chosen at random to pick one of five jewelry boxes. Four boxes will contain gold earrings worth $200 a pair and one box will contain a set of diamond earrings valued at $4,000.

Wednesday (Nov. 25) is the “second chance” Drew Monti bobblehead give-away. A limited amount of these remaining, very desirable collectibles will be distributed on a first come-first served basis to customers who swipe their card at Player’s Club and get a ticket. They will be distributed after the seventh race in the Paddock Room. Racing fans will also have the choice of selecting a Batavia Downs wine rack in the event the bobbleheads are gone. The Drew Monti bobbleheads are also sponsored by TAG Jewelers (www.tagjewelers.com).

During the first two weekends of December, Batavia Downs will host the free $1,000 Pick-6 contest, sponsored by the Western New York Harness Horsemen’s Association. Fans can swipe their card at Player’s Club and get an official entry form.

Saturday (Dec. 5) is the first $500 leg. If no one selects all six winners, then Friday (Dec. 11) it goes to $1,000. If no one selects all six winners that night, then Saturday (Dec. 12) is a “must-pay” to the player(s) with the most winners selected out of six.

And finally, Friday (Dec. 11) is customer appreciation day. Everyone in attendance will receive free sandwiches from Subway of Batavia, free cake from BJ’s Wholesale of Batavia, free coffee and $1 programs.

The final live racing card of the season is on Saturday (Dec. 12).

(Photo of Button Fly with driver Shawn McDonough, courtesy of Paul White.)

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Since coming to Batavia Downs three starts ago, Button Fly had yet to taste victory after three narrow decisions. But class relief and post one worked wonders for him this week as he captured the $8,400 Open II pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 17).

After yielding the lead to Gold Star Spike (Drew Monti) at the eighth pole, Button Fly (Shawn McDonough) pulled and retook the lead by the quarter and never looked back. After putting the field to sleep in a stodgy :58 half, Button Fly paired :28.1 and :28.2 final panels en route to an easy two-length win in 1:54.3.

Sent off as the prohibitive 1-5 favorite, Button Fly ($2.40) captured his fifth win of the year and boosted his 2015 earnings to $40,285 for owners David Ball and Jerry Reinhart. Winning driver, Shawn McDonough, also conditions the 5-year-old Lis Mara gelding.

Shawn McDonough had a very productive night, winning four races as a driver as well as two as a trainer. His driving wins included Red Clay ($2.70), Kruella ($3.80), Button Fly ($2.40) and Enzo Seelster ($17.00); the last two he also trains. Kevin Cummings scored a driving double as did Dave McNeight III. Trainer Dave McNeight Jr. conditioned two that visited the winner's enclosure.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 21) at a new, earlier post time of 6:15 p.m. This will be the post time for all evening cards for the remainder of the 2015 meet.

(Photo of BZ Glide in the forefront driven by Mike Caprio.)

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Neither wind, rain, gloom of night nor five worthy competitors could keep BZ Glide from completing his appointed rounds as he once again won the $9,500 Open trotting feature at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Oct. 15).

After intermittent late-afternoon downpours provided a wet and tacky racing surface for the evenings’ events, Vernon Downs invader Hold On Tightly (John Cummings Jr.) found good footing off the gate and went right to the lead. He maintained that position unchallenged for the bulk of the mile, setting pedestrian off-track fractions of :30.1, 1:01.4 and 1:31.2 in the process. During those same fractions, BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) sat last, gapped two-lengths off, watching it all happen.

But six furlongs at the back of the bus was long enough. Into the final turn, Caprio pulled BZ Glide three-deep before fanning out four-wide at the top of the lane. The pair switched into overdrive, swooped the field and passed Hold On Tightly at the wire to win by a length in 2:01.4.  

It was the seventh victory in 17 starts for BZ Glide ($3.60) and the winner’s share of the purse enhanced his 2015 financial situation to $50,570 for owner Caprio Stable, LLC. Alana Caprio trains the 6-year-old altered son of Yankee Glide.

On a night that went against recent trends, only one driver scored multiple wins on the card; John Cumming Jr. had two. Other than that, 10 different drivers won the remaining 10 races and the Downs top two leading reinsmen, Kevin Cummings and Dave McNeight III, were blanked.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on tonight (Oct. 16) at 6:35.

(Photo of Wicked Elphaba with reinsman Ray Fisher Jr.)

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Wicked Elphaba started slow but finished strong to take the $10,000 Open mares pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Oct. 14).

Wicked Elphaba (Ray Fisher Jr.) quickly found herself with a ten-length deficit when Aurora Borealis (Kirk Desmond), Seascape Hanover (John Cummings Jr.) and Country Delight (Jack Flanigen) all battled for the lead in a brisk :27.1 quarter. From there, Seascape Hanover took the front and cut the mile while leaving Country Delight hung out to dry.

As the group passed the half and moved towards five-eighths, Fisher pulled Wicked Elphaba and brushed strongly up the backside. At the three-quarter pole, Wicked Elphaba tipped three-deep around the fading Country Delight, drew even with the front-running Seascape Hanover, and then flew by to take the lead. The mare paced away down the lane to win by three lengths in 1:56.  

It was the fifth win of the year for Wicked Elphaba ($9.20) and the first in the top class for distaff pacers at this meet. The winners share pushed her 2015 earnings to $25,873 for owner Tanah Merah Farms. The 5-year-old Western Terror mare is trained by Ryan Swift.

Drew Monti had a grand slam on Wednesday night, taking pictures with Climate Hanover ($2.80), Missevil ($9.70), R T Lange ($32.20) and Diditagain Hanover ($26.00). Shawn McDonough and Dave McNeight III both had doubles on the card as well.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 16) at 6:35 p.m.

(Pictured from left: Mary Bucceri, Sara Tenney and Rock Vinci. Photo courtesy of Paul White.)

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Although it was Columbus Day at Batavia Downs, it was Groundhog Day for Rock Vinci. That is because Vinci won the special Italian-American drivers race (known as the Christopher Columbus Pace) for the second year in a row, in the identical time as last year and with another bombs-away payoff.

Vinci left with his horse, the 12-1 Bruener, before giving way to 102-1 Put It In Gear (Denny Bucceri). Past three-eighths, the prohibitive 1-9 favorite, Feets Of Magic (Drew Monti), pulled to try and take the lead from Put It In Gear. But while those two jousted until the top of the stretch, Vinci snuck Bruener up the pylons and won going away in 1:58.2. The winner paid $26.20.

Last year, Vinci won the "race for the cannolis" with Windsong Destroyer off a similar two-hole trip, also in 1:58.2 and returned a healthy $16.80.

Aside from the gratitude of owner Joe Kilburg, trainer JD Perrin and his driving percentage of the purse, Vinci was also presented with a half dozen gourmet cannolis in the winners's circle and gets to retain his bragging rights for another year.

(Photo courtesy of Paul White.)

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Sent off at 12-1, the lightly regarded Phil Your Boots made believers out of those doubters as he overcame a huge deficit at the half to win the $9,500 Open pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 10).

Off the wings, Cobble Beach (John Cummings Jr.) and Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) both left in search of forward positioning. Jokerman (Jim McNeight), who had the pole, let Cobble Beach go while seating Fireyourguns. After all grabbed a spot, the single-file pack tripped the quarter in :28.4 and the half in :56.1. At this point, eventual winner Phil Your Boots (Drew Monti) was sitting last, 10-lengths off the lead behind a drifting and gapped Bakken (Ray Fisher Jr.).

Monti got his charge around the lagging horse and quickly caught the field. When Button Fly (Shawn McDonough) started an outer-flow, Phil Your Boots followed second-over as they reached the three-quarters in 1:26.1. At the top of the stretch, Cobble Beach packed it in but Fireyourguns still looked strong. Undaunted, Phil Your Boots tipped three-deep and put on a ferocious charge to just nose-out Fireyourguns in 1:54.2.

It was the tenth win of the year for Phil Your Boots ($26.00) including six out of his last eight. And the winner’s share of the purse inflated his 2015 earnings to $43,750 for owner Lou Frascella. Carl Smith trains the winner.   

Drew Monti scored a driving triple Saturday, winning with Phil Your Boots ($26.00), Rockstar Temper ($3.40) and The Battle Begins ($3.60) while Kevin Cummings, Shawn McDonough and Jim McNeight all registered driving doubles.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Oct. 12) with a special Columbus Day matinee card that gets under way at 1:15.

(Photo of Tequila Haze with reinsman Jim McNeight, courtesy of Paul White.)

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

In as definitive a manner as could be displayed, Tequila Haze ($11.20) led at all stations en route to capturing the $7,700 Open II trotting feature at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Oct. 9).

While weekly regulars Lutetium and BZ Glide were not in the race, Tequila Haze (Jim McNeight) took full advantage of the opportunity and used his gait speed to power to the front off the gate and take immediate command of the race. Enjoying a loose-length lead, McNeight took the field through fractions of :29.2, :59.3 and 1:28.3 before raising the lines and giving Tequila Haze his head around the last turn.

With some rocking and knocking encouragement down the lane, Tequila Haze held strong and hit the wire in front in 1:58. Keystone Wild Card (Drew Monti) was second and Studio City (Dave McNeight III) was third.

It was the fourth win of the year for the 4-year-old gelded son of Muscle Mass and it raised his seasonal earnings to $33,399 for owners Michael Ventura and James McNeight Jr.

Shawn McDonough scored a driving triple of Friday’s card while Jack Flanigen and Ray Fisher Jr. both had doubles.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 10) with post time for the first race set at 6:35.