Sports

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs has announced there will be a guaranteed pool of $3,000 for the Pick-5 wager today (Oct. 14).

The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are 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 the Saturday (Oct. 17) program.

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

Black Is Back with driver Dave McNeight III.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Taking full advantage of the pylon position start, Black Is Back (Dave McNeight III) grabbed the lead by the quarter and took the field to the half in :57.3. By that time Stratosphere (Drew Monti) was rolling up the rim and moving towards the front. Black Is Back and Stratosphere battled up the backside, around the far turn and into the lane where Black Is Back put away the challenge and then held off a late charge by Mr. Euroman (BIlly Davis Jr.) to win by ¼ length in 1:54.3.

It was the fourth win of the Batavia meet and sixth win overall this year for Black Is Back ($3.30) who is owned by Curtis Edhholm and Mihajlo Zdjelar Sr. Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. trains the winner. 

In the $7,500 Open II pace, Manciever (Drew Monti) pulled first-over at the 3/8th’s and took the lead from Santana Beach (Billy Davis Jr.) by the half and then kicked away to a 4-¾ length win in 1:54.1. Owned by Jeffrey Savidge and trained by Jennifer Giuliani, Manciever ($5) took a new seasonal mark in his third win of the year. 

Drew Monti had the hot hand in the sulky on Saturday winning five races on the card. He won with the aforementioned Manciever, Machlicious (1:54, $3.60), The Lunch Pail (1:55.2, $2.10), Thedoginthefight (1:57.4, $3.70) and Gallant Major (1:57.3, $7.20).  

Trainer Don Rothfuss led all conditioners with two wins on the night.  

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 14) and it was announced that there will be a guaranteed $3,000 pool in the Pick-5 wager that day.

It will be part of the USTA Strategic Wagering Program and as such, there will be free program pages for the first five races on Wednesday available on the Batavia Downs website and the USTA website starting on Monday.

Post time for the first race will be 5 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

With no winner in the Pick-5 wager on Wednesday (Oct. 7) at Batavia Downs, there is a $1,462 carry-over pool today (Oct.10) and there will be a guaranteed pool of $4,000 for the Pick-5 wager.

The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are available courtesy of Trackmaster on the Batavia Downs website, the USTA’s website 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 the Wednesday (Oct. 14) program.

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

NOTE: Laurie Call helped lead Notre Dame to a 2013 state championship.

Press release:

Eastern Nazarene College head women's basketball coach Sacha Santimano has announced the hiring of Laurie Call as assistant coach.

A 2018 graduate of Houghton College, Call played three seasons with the Highlanders' women's basketball program. She served as a team captain during her senior season and helped the team reach the Empire 8 championship game in the program's first-ever Empire 8 postseason appearance. She was an NCCAA All-American Scholar-Athlete and was named to the President's List and Dean's Honor List at Houghton.

Call joins the collegiate coaching ranks following a stint as an assistant coach with the WNY Rebels, working with the AAU basketball team's 8th-10th grade squad.

A native of Batavia, New York, Call has worked as a staffing manager at TalentBridge in Rochester, New York since 2018. At TalentBridge, she was named the company's 2019 Rookie of the Year and was responsible for recruiting candidates for various companies' hiring needs. Call also interned in the Houghton College Alumni Office and at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia during her undergraduate academic career.

"Laurie is a great addition to this program and family. She's incredibly smart and hard-working. She brings a lot of energy and new ideas! We cannot wait to get her here," commented Santimano.

Lady Dudette with driver Kyle Cummings.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

A pair of $8,500 Open events topped the card at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 7) and connoisseurs of the longshot were very happy with the outcome of both events. 

In the Open I Handicap pace for fillies and mares, Lady Dudette took the overland route to victory in a short but select field.  

HP Sissy (Denny Bucceri) grabbed the lead and paced uncontested to the half in :57.1. Past the five-eighths, Lady Dudette (Kyle Cummings) pulled first-over from fifth and motored up towards the leader. The two mares were closely engaged by the three-quarters and around the last turn with neither giving way. At the top of the stretch Cummings asked for more and Lady Dudette came through. She paced away from HP Sissy and held off a late charging Protect Blue Chip (Billy Davis Jr.) to win by 3/4’s of a length in 1:56.3.

It was the seventh win of the year for Lady Dudette ($12) and her owner, driver Kyle Cummings. Tammy Cummings trains the winner.

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

Then in the Open I trot, the tough-as-nails Il Mago looked his old self in a gate to wire win producing his second fastest clocking of the year. 

Il Mago (Jim Morrill Jr.) took early control and put the field to bed. After clipping quarters of :28.3 and :57.3, Il Mago opened up a three length lead trotting up the backside and extended it to five by the time he hit the top of the lane. From there he got home by 3/4’s of a length over a fast closing Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) and won in 1:56.4. 

It was the 51^st lifetime win for Il Mago ($26.40) and it pushed his lifetime bankroll to a very impressive $880,638. The classy 11-year-old son of Kadabra-Northern Style is owned by Mike Torcello and is trained by Gerry Sarama. 

Jim Morrill Jr. pulled off a not often seen feat at Batavia Wednesday when he won four consecutive races. Starting in race seven, he won with Southern Palms (1:59, $7.10), Il Mago, Tellawoman (1.56, $5.60) and Sentimental Lady (1:57.1, $7). Races seven to 10 just happened to be the Pick-4 wager and the all-Morrill Pick-4 returned $930.00. 

Besides Morrill’s four wins, Dave McNeight III had three wins while Billy Davis Jr. and Shawn McDonough each had two. 

McDonough also led all trainers on Wednesday with three wins while Russell Bratt, Rich Mays and Gerry Sarama all won two each. Sarama’s pair brought his lifetime training win total up to 996, now just four shy of the 1,000 win plateau.

There were no winners in the Pick-5 on Wednesday so the $1,462 carry-over pool will move to Saturday (Oct. 10) and Batavia Downs will be offering a $4,000 guaranteed pool through the USTA’s Strategic Wagering program for that wager. Free program pages will be available for the first five races on Saturday at both the Batavia Downs and USTA websites starting on Thursday (Oct. 8).

Post time for live racing on Saturday is 5 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs has announced that there will be a guaranteed pool of $3,000 for the Pick-5 wager today (Oct. 7).

The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are available courtesy of Trackmaster on the USTA’s website or by clicking here. (https://legacy.trackmaster.com/usta/btv1007x.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 the Saturday (Oct. 10) program.

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

Mr. Euroman with driver Billy Davis Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The best male pacers in western New York were on display at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 3) and the top two races produced some impressive efforts by the respective winners.

In the featured $8,500 Open I Handicap pace, Mr. Euroman turned a first-over move into his fourth win of the year after a hard fought stretch drive. 

Black Is Back (Dave McNeight III) went to the front quickly and led the single-file field to the half in a meek :57.4. The order stayed that way until Mr. Euroman (Billy Davis Jr.) pulled first-over past the five-eighths and motored toward the leader up the backstretch. Mr. Euroman drew even with Black Is Back at the three-quarters and they paced side by side around the last turn and down the stretch. The two did not separate until four pylons from the light when Mr. Euroman started to pull away under heavy urging from Davis to win by a length in 1:54.3. 

Mr. Euroman ($11) is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Team Rice Racing and Adelphi Bloodstock. Maria Rice is the trainer.

Above photo Cultural Paradise with driver Drew Monti.

Then in the $7,250 Open II-III Handicap pace, Cultural Paradise turned in the fastest mile of the night after not getting a breather the entire mile. 

Pick Six (Denny Bucceri) played hardball off the gate and parked Cultural Paradise (Drew Monti) to the quarter in a quick :27 flat. When he cleared, Santana Beach (Billy Davis Jr.) was still on the rim and now on the attack for the lead. Moving past the half Santana Beach got a length in front of Cultural Paradise but was not able to cross over, leaving him parked for a third consecutive turn. As they paced up the backstretch, Cultural Paradise began to pull away and opened up a three length lead by the top of the stretch. He turned for home and cruised under a line drive to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.4, which was a new seasonal mark. 

It was the fourth win in the last five starts and third win in a row for Cultural Paradise ($7.40) and owner Howard Ouriel. Don Rothfuss trains the winner. 

Only three drivers accounted for 11 of the 13 races won on Saturday. Drew Monti and Dave McNeight III each scored four wins while Billy Davis Jr. registered three. Trainers Don Rothfuss, Rose Russo and Maria Rice all had two wins apiece. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 7) with post time at 5 p.m. Once again there will be a guaranteed $3,000 pool in the Pick-5 wager in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering program. Free program pages of races one through five will be available for download starting on Monday.

Bryce Yockel, a graduate of Byron/Byron-Bergen High School, is one of 52 student-athletes to continue their football career at Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio.

Head Coach Jim Hilvert, who is in fourth season, returns 39 letterwinners, 10 Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference selections and six All-OAC players from last year's squad that finished 7-3 overall and 6-3 in the OAC.

Click here to view the entire BW football roster.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Yellow Jacket fall 10-game schedule was postponed and rescheduled to a five-game Friday night 2021 spring season. BW will open its spring season on Friday, March 12 when it travels to University Heights for an OAC East Division and 32nd Annual Battle for Cuyahoga Gold Bowl Trophy Game on Wasmer Field inside Don Shula Stadium at 7 p.m.

Baldwin Wallace University, founded in 1845, was one of the first colleges to admit students without regard to race or gender. An independent, coeducational university of 3,500 students, BW offers coursework in the liberal arts tradition in more than 80 academic areas. Located in Berea, 12 miles from Ddowntown Cleveland, Ohio, BW offers students the cultural, educational and business advantages of a major metropolitan area.

Lunar Credit with driver Jim McNeight Jr., winning the featured $8,500 Open I trot at Batavia Downs Wednesday.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Heavy rain, strong winds and sloppy goings were not the best conditions for racing on Wednesday night (Sept. 30), but they were no match for the storm Billy Davis Jr. kicked up on the track while winning six of the 13 races at Batavia Downs.

Davis came out of the gate strong, winning both ends of the double with Surfers Paradise (1:57.3, $3.10) and The Land Shark (2:01.2, $14.80) and followed that up with victories with Wonderful World (1:56.1, $5.90), Pembroke Bada Bing (2:02, $22.20), Rockn Legend (2:00.3, $7.40) and Electric Chapel N (2:00.2, $4.30).

Davis, who is the defending dash driving champion at the Downs, started Wednesday in second place and 10 wins behind the current leader Jim Morrill Jr. But with Morrill drawing a blank during the card, Davis is now only four wins away from moving into a first place tie. 

Davis is also currently the tenth leading percentage driver in North America with a .342 Universal Driver Rating. Morrill is fifth in that category with a .377. 

The one race Davis did not win was the featured $8,500 Open I trot. That race went to Lunar Credit and Jim McNeight Jr. who lurked second behind the front running Il Mago (Jim Morrill Jr.) all the way to the top of the stretch where the one-path opened up. Lunar Credit shot the gap to catch the leader and fend off the fast closing Daylon Phantom (Drew Monti) and Before I Die (Dave McNeight III) to win by 1/2 length in 1:58.4. 

Lunar Credit ($10.40) scored his fourth win for his owner/driver McNeight Jr. The winner is trained by Jim McNeight.  

Jim McNeight Jr. also had a big night in the bike winning two more races to score the hat trick. 

Trainers Jim McNeight, Andy Torre, Don Niles and Sabrina Shaw all registered two wins on Wednesday. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Oct. 3) with post time at 6 p.m. 

Aces/Inferno Baseball is looking for one or two players to complete their summer 2021 rosters in a couple ages.

For more information or to register for an appointment see:  www.teamacesbaseball.com or contact Rich Wozniak at:  aces@teamacesbaseball.com.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs has announced that there will be a guaranteed pool of $3,000 for the Pick-5 wager on Wednesday (Sept. 30).

The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are available courtesy of Trackmaster on the USTA’s website 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 the Saturday (Oct. 3) program.

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

Percy’s Z Tam in the lead with driver Jim Morrill Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The last time Percy’s Z Tam drew post one was March 14th and he took full advantage of his starting position as he won the featured $8,500 Open I pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday evening (Sept. 26). 

Long Train Runnin (Denny Bucceri) bolted the wings and overtook the point by the quarter in :27.2. With Percy’s Z Tam (Jim Morrill Jr.) and Mr. Euroman (Billy Davis Jr.) following closely in line, Long Train Runnin paced unimpeded to the half in :56.4 and would not feel the heat until midway up the backstretch. That’s where Morrill pulled Percy’s Z Tam and took the lead at the three quarters, rounded the last turn and took a two-length advantage into the stretch. He then paced sharply to the wire, holding off a late rush from Mr. Euroman to win by ½ length in 1:53.3, which was a new seasonal mark. 

It was the sixth win of the year for Percy’s Z Tam ($5.30) who is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Gerry Sarama. 

In the $7,500 Open II pace, Harry Hoo N (Shawn McDonough) followed Under Paid (Ray Fisher Jr.) all the way to the top of the stretch where he tipped, took the lead and held it to the wire where he won by ½ length in 1:54.2, which was his best effort this year. 

Harry Hoo N ($11.60) scored his second win in the last three starts and the fourth win of the year for owner Harry Wortzman. McDonough also trains the winner. 

Drew Monti was the leading reinsman on Saturday winning three races on the card. Billy Davis Jr., Dave Mcneight III, Jim Morrill Jr. and Shawn McDonough all visited the Purple Haze winner’s circle twice. McDonough also registered two wins on the training side as well.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Majestic Kat takes the lead with driver Billy Davis Jr. at the reins.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

A pair of $8,500 Open I Handicap races topped the card at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Sept. 23) -- one for trotters and one for pacing mares -- and both produced gate to wire winners. 

Majestic Kat moved up to the Open I trot after a 4-1/2 length, 1:57.2 seasonal best win in the Open III last week and despite the jump in class, went almost the exact same mile. Billy Davis Jr. left with Majestic Kat and cut quarters of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:27.1 before Before I Die (Dave McNeight III) trotted alongside him in the last turn and then matched strides all the way down the lane. With less than a half-length between them for the last 1/16^th of the mile, Majestic Kat managed to hold her ground and beat Before I Die at the light by a 1/2 length in 1:57.1, which was another new seasonal mark. 

Majestic Kat ($7.90) is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Team Rice Racing and Adelphi Bloodstock and is trained by Maria Rice.  

Billy Davis Jr. added two more wins during the proceedings, walking away with a driving hat trick.

Above, HP Sissy and driver Denny Bucceri.

One race later in the top distaff pace, HP Sissy rebounded from two consecutive eight hole draws and went right to the front where she does some of her best work. Denny Bucceri sped to the quarter in :27.1 before grabbing leather in a :30 flat second panel, where the race was really decided. Blacknsweet Adda A (Jim Morrill Jr.) pulled on the second circuit with Protect Blue Chip (Billy Davis Jr.) on her back, but HP Sissy was up to the task. She hit the three-quarters in 1:25.4, rounded the far turn and opened up a two-length advantage while pacing sharply to the wire in 1:54.4. 

It was the fifth win of the year for HP Sissy ($7.10) who is owned by Finnocchario’s Dream Stable and trained by Mike Ohol. 

Finnocchario, Ohol and Bucceri doubled their pleasure Wednesday as they also won with Mach’s Echo who blew up the tote board with a $39.60 payoff. 

Jim Morrill Jr. had a big night in the bike, winning four races on the card. He scored with Sentimental Lady (1:57.1, $5.30), Il Mago (1:57, $4.40), Odyssey Blue Chip (1:58.1, $2.50) and You Mach Me Crazy (1:56.4, $2.30). 

Gerry Sarama trained the last three Morrill winners, giving him a training triple that was matched by fellow conditioner Sabrina Shaw. 

Drew Monti was the final multi-win horseman teaming two winners on the card. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 26) with post time at 5 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs has announced a guaranteed pool of $3,000 for the Pick-5 wager on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 23). The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are available courtesy of Trackmaster on the USTA’s website or by direct download 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, a carryover pool will move to the Saturday (Sept. 26) program.

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