Sports

Photo: Il Mago with driver Jim Morrill Jr. pictured near the pylons.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

It’s the same old story, same old song and dance for Il Mago, who has been seemingly unbeatable of late at Batavia Downs. And there was no page turned as he took yet another $8,500 Open I Handicap trot in Genesee County on Wednesday night (Nov. 18) over an off track that saw snow flurries earlier in the day. 

Jim Morrill Jr. took his usual spot on the point with Il Mago off the gate and cut fractions of :28.2 and :57.2 without any early challenges. But past the half, Cr Blazin Beauty (Dave McNeight III) came calling and would accompany the leader all the way to the wire. 

Cr Blazin Beauty trotted toward Il Mago up the backside and around the final turn and by the top of the stretch, the leader was in her sights. As the finish drew near it was clear Il Mago needed the line as Cr Blazin Beauty had now trotted alongside. But the 11-year-old Il Mago knows how to close the deal and he did once again, winning by a neck in 1:57.3.

It was the third straight win and fifth in the last seven for Il Mago ($5.20) who is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Gerry Sarama. 

The Morrill, Torcello and Sarama team collectively had the Hat Trick on Wednesday as Toothofthedragon (1:58, $4.20) and Concertina’s Image (1:58.4, $6.80) also registered wins. 

In the undercard $7,500 Open II pace for fillies and mares, Wonderful World (Billy Davis Jr.) tripped-out behind Yankee Secret (Dave McNeight III) until the stretch where she pulled and paced away to a 1-3/4 length win in 1:56.4. Wonderful World ($11.00) is owned by Mike Carrubba and her trainer, Sabrina Shaw.  

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Nov. 21) with post time at 5 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

With no winner in the Pick-5 wager at Batavia Downs last Saturday (Nov. 14), the track will feature an $1,157 carry over and a guaranteed $5,000 pool in the Pick-5 wager today (Nov. 18).

The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are now available courtesy of Trackmaster on the Batavia Downs and USTA websites or 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, any carryover pool will be moved to the Pick-5 wager on Saturday (Nov. 21) program.

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

Photo: Percy’s Z Tam with driver Jim Morrill Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Percy’s Z Tam fought off a pair of challenges in the mile en route to winning the $8,500 Open I Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Nov. 14).

When the gate released race, no one left and they headed around the first turn in post position order. Seeing the opportunity, Jim Morrill Jr. tipped Percy’s Z Tam from third and took the front by the quarter in :28 and from there, he controlled the remainder of the contest. After coasting to the half at his own pace, the competition then headed his way as Tullow N (Ray FIsher Jr.) and Stratosphere (Drew Monti) came in the outer flow in the third turn in pursuit of the leader. 

Heading toward three-quarters, Percy’s Z Tam turned back the outside threat but Long Train Runnin (Shawn McDonough) who was tripping out to this point, was poised to take his best shot. That came at the top of the stretch where McDonough pulled Long Train Runnin and started to drive hard. He made up ground all the way to the wire but he could not get by Percy’s Z Tam, who hung on by a neck to win in 1:54.1. 

It was the seventh victory of the year for Percy’s Z Tam ($6.50) and it pushed his earnings to $59,235 for owner Mike Torcello. Gerry Sarama trains the winner. 

In the $7,500 Open II pace, Thor De Vie (Dave McNeight III) grabbed the lead at the quarter, turned back a strong third quarter challenge from Barry Hanover (Kyle Cummings) and then out-paced the pocket sitting McSpidey (Jim Morrill Jr.) down the lane to capture his sixth win of the year in 1:55.2. 

Thor De Vie ($3.10) is owned by his trainer Jim Graham along with Lee Winters, Paul Tandlmayer and Giuseppe Micchia. 

Dave McNeight III had three other winners on the card giving him the driving Grand Slam. Besides Thor De Vie, he also won with Myell’s Rockstar (1:55.3, $10.20), Falcon’s Luke (1:59.3, $12.00) and Charmbo Orbit (1:55.4, $41.20). 

Another winning combination was driver Jim Morrill Jr., trainer Gerry Sarama and owner Mike Torcello who sent three winners to post Saturday night.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 18) with post time at 5 p.m. And since there was no Pick-5 winner on Saturday, there is a carry over of $1,157 and a guaranteed pool of $5,000 for the Pick-5 on Wednesday.

The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages for races one through five will be available on the USTA and Batavia Downs websites early next week.

Photo: Protect Blue Chip with driver Billy Davis Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The Wednesday evening (Nov. 11) racing menu at Batavia Downs featured a pair of $8,500 Open I handicap events that produced definitive winners on both the pace and the trot and also saw the meet's second winningest driver, Billy Davis Jr., win five races on the card. 

In the handicap pace for fillies and mares, Protect Blue Chip (Billy Davis Jr.) took the lead and was pushed through blistering early fractions of :27 and :55.4 by Tellawoman (Dave McNeight III). But the feverish tempo to the half only gave way to a fantastic finish by Protect Blue Chip, who kicked away by three lengths around the last turn and stretched that out to five at the wire where she won handily in 1:55.3.  

It was the fifth win of the year for Protect Blue chip ($4.10) who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Team rice Racing and Adelphi Bloodstock and is trained by Maria Rice. 

(Above, Il Mago with driver Jim Morrill Jr.)

Later in the handicap trot, Il Mago (Jim Morrill Jr.) bolted to a 3-1/2 length advantage at the quarter, extended that to five open at the half and stretched it out to six at the head of the stretch. From there he closed out the mile on top by three in 1:57. 

For Il Mago ($7.70) it was the seventh win of the year and 53^rd lifetime and the winner’s share of the purse pushed his career earnings in excess of $891,000. Mike Torcello owns the Gerry Sarama trained son of Kadabra-Northern Style. 

Billy Davis Jr. had a monster night, winning five races on the card including a natural Hat Trick in races one through three. Besides the already mentioned Protect Blue Chip, Davis scored with Hey Sweetie (1:56.3, $14), Babylon’s Bridge (1:59.4, $4), Aunt Betty (1:58.3, $7.30) and Kredit Karma (2:00.2, $12.80).   

Three of Davis’s winners were trained by Maria Rice and she led all conditioners on Wednesday as a result. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Nov. 14) with post time at 5 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs will feature a guaranteed $3,000 pool in the Pick-5 wager on today (Nov. 11).

The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are now available courtesy of Trackmaster on the Batavia Downs and USTA websites or by clicking here. (https://www.trackmaster.com/freeContent/usta/freeContentFiles/hpl/btv1111x.pdf)

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, any carryover pool will be moved to the Pick-5 wager on Saturday (Nov. 14) program.

Post time for today's first race is 5 p.m.

Photo: Mr. Euroman N with driver Billy Davis Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Fresh off a late closing victory in the top pace at Batavia Downs last week, Mr. Euroman N found himself right back in the winner’s circle once again after capturing the $8,500 Open I Handicap pace at the Downs on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 7). 

Mr. Euroman N (Billy Davis Jr.) got away fourth as Tullow N (Ray Fisher Jr.) took the lead by the quarter and then paced smartly to the half in :57. At that point Davis had Mr. Euroman N out and moving first-over into the third turn and drew alongside Tullow N by the three-quarters. Davis and Fisher then commenced rocking and knocking around the far turn with Mr. Euroman N getting an advantage heading down the lane that he would keep all the way to the line where he won by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:54.3. 

It was the third Open I win in the last four stars for Mr. Euroman N ($4.80) and owners Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Team Rice Racing and Adelphi Bloodstock. Maria Rice trains the winner.

(Above, Stratosphere with driver Drew Monti.)

The $7,500 Open II pace went to Stratosphere (Drew Monti) who dropped down from Open I company this week and led throughout the entire mile before holding off the tripped-out Percy’s Z Tam (Jim Morrill Jr.) at the light to win by a neck in 1:54.1. It was the sixth win of the year for Stratosphere ($5.80) who is owned by his driver and trained by Darrin Monti. 

Billy Davis Jr., Drew Monti and Jim Morrill Jr. all had three driving wins on Saturday while trainers Darrin Monti, Jerry Nugent Jr., Gerry Sarama and Lee Dahn all had two wins apiece. 

When racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 11) there will be a guaranteed pool of $3,000 for the Pick-5 wager that day.

The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages will be available courtesy of Trackmaster on both the USTA and Batavia Downs website early next week.

Post time for Wednesday is set at 5 p.m.

Photo of Lougazi with driver Ray Fisher Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

One came from behind and one led all the way, but both were the best in their class at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening (Nov. 4). 

The $8,500 Open I Handicap trot was won by Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) who got away a gapped fifth while Daylon Phantom (Dan Yetman) took an unchallenged lead to the half in :58.2. There, Before I Die (Jim McNeight Jr.) pulled first over with an advancing Lougazi on his tail. 

Positions remained the same up the backside and around the far turn until Lougazi tipped three-deep at the top of the stretch and the pocket-sitting Majestic Kat (Billy Davis Jr.) found room inside and shot through. Four pylons from the wire, Lougazi and Majestic Kat passed Daylon Phantom and then hit the line together in 1:58.4. After the photo, Lougazi got the nod and came back for his picture.  

It was the fourth win of the year for Lougazi ($8.10) who made his first start in almost a month for owner Mary Warriner. Ryan Swift is the trainer.

(Photo of Tellawoman with driver Jim Morrill Jr.)

Then in the Open II pace for fillies and mares, Tellawoman (Jim Morrill Jr.) led every step of the mile, tripping the timers in :28.4, :58 and 1:26.3 before turning for home and hitting the line on top by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4. It was the third straight win and fourth out of the last five for Tellawoman ($3.10) who is owned by Rose Campbell and trained by Russell Bratt. 

Ray Fisher Jr. led all drivers on Wednesday as he registered a hat trick. Also Jim Morrill Jr., Billy Davis Jr. and Drew Monti, who are currently the top three dash drivers of the meet in that order, all had two wins. 

On the conditioning side, 12 different trainers accounted for the night’s 12 winners.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Nov. 7) with post time at 1:15 p .m. The early start is due to the Breeders Cup races.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs will feature a guaranteed $3,000 pool in the Pick-5 wager today (Nov. 4).

The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are now available courtesy of Trackmaster on the Batavia Downs and USTA websites or 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, any carryover pool will be moved to the Pick-5 wager on Saturday (Nov. 7) program.

Post time for today's first race is 5 p.m.

Photo: Mr. Euroman N takes the lead with reinsman Billy Davis Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Dave McNeight III, AKA “Triple Sticks,” has been on a tear of late at Batavia Downs and he stayed scary-good on Saturday (Oct. 31) as he won five races on the matinee card. 

He scored with Thor De Vie (1:54, $3.20), Barry Hanover (1:55, $10.40), Daylight Rush (1:55.2, $3.80), This Baby Rocks (1:57.3, $41.20) and In Runaway Bay N (1:56.1, $4.10). 

McNeight currently sits in fourth place in the driving race but has been gaining a lot of ground lately. In the last six cards of racing McNeight has won 16 races. 

The top race of the day was the $8,500 Open I Handicap pace and after not seeing the starting gate for 21 days, Mr. Euroman N made his return to action a triumphant one after a late stretch rush to grab the feature win. 

Mr. Euroman N (Billy Davis Jr.) got away sixth while Percy’s Z Tam (Jim Morrill Jr.) barked the orders on the front end wIth horses in single file behind. They hit the quarter in :27,3 and the half in a slow :58.1. Heading up the backside, Mr. Euroman N was still sixth while only McSpidey (Denny Bucceri) pulled to make a bid.

Around the last turn McSpidey faded and Percy’s Z Tam looked a likely winner. But when they straightened for home, Stratosphere (Drew Monti) found room up the pylons, Tullow N (Shawn McDonough) tipped outside and Mr. Euroman N shook loose from mid-pack and went four-wide and when the four horses hit the wire, Mr. Euroman N was the best by a nose in 1:55.2.

It was the fifth win of the year for Mr. Euroman N ($15.00) who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Team Rice Racing and Adelphi Bloodstock. Maria Rice trains the winner. 

BIlly Davis Jr., who currently sits second in the driver standings, also had a big day in the bike after he registered a grand slam on the card. Aside from winning the feature, his four scores were capped with a victory by the venerable 13-year-old pacer Expensive Toy (Camotion-Costly Toy) who went gate to wire in 1:58 to capture the 50th win of his long career. After having made 290 career starts, Expensive Toy has 50 wins, 52 seconds and 46 thirds with earnings of $468,848. Expensive Toy is owned and trained by Sabrina Shaw. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 4) at 5 p.m. There will be another guaranteed Pick-5 pool of $3,000 on Wednesday and it will again be part of the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program with free program pages available on both USTA and Batavia Downs websites starting early next week.