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Batavia Downs

Kevin Cummings wins six of 12 at Batavia Downs

By Tim Bojarski

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Batavia Downs leading driver Kevin Cummings continued his torrid pace on Sunday (Aug. 28) after his Grand Slam performance at the track on Saturday night. Cummings drove six more winners of the 12 races held, giving him a total of 11 wins in the last 22 races in which he drove. 

Cummings biggest win of the day came with Jumpininthejailhouse, who won the co-featured $14,000 Open II trot in fairly easy fashion. 

Jumpininthejailhouse went right to the front and reached the quarter in :28.4 as All About Thechase (Mike Caprio) and Batting Stats (Keith Kash Jr.) followed closely behind. With positions unchanged from that point, Jumpininthejailhouse then went :59.2 to the half and 1:28.3 to three-quarters and extended his lead to 2-½ length coming off the last turn. The race was over at the point as Cummings had Jumpininthejailhouse wrapped up by 2-¼ lengths in 1:57.4, which tied his season’s best clocking. 

Jumpininthejailhouse ($4.20) is owned by Mike Torcello and was trainer Sammy Smith’s second win of the afternoon. 

Cummings completed his six pack with wins behind Faithful Desire (1:55.2, $2.90), Anurka (1:57, $6.10), Bacardi (1:57, $3.90), Parkhill Horton (1:58, $6.30) and Way To Go Fabio (1:55.3, $6.30).

So far this meet, Kevin Cummings has 45 wins in only 156 starts and sits ahead of Jim Morrill Jr. (39) in the top spot for dash supremacy.   

The one race Cummings didn’t win was the $15,000 Open I Handicap trot, where Saratoga regular Oh So Pine shipped in off a disappointing start at Plainridge Park and got back on track in a gate-to-wire win. 

Larry Stalbaum flew off the wings with Oh So Pine and opened up a three-length lead at the :29.2 quarter. With Lunar Credit (Jim McNeight III) snug in the pocket, Oh So Pine continued to set a steady tempo to the half in :59.2 and three-quarters in 1:28.3. At the top of the stretch Lunar Credit and Sanchez Rocks (Drew Monti) were both within a length of the leader as they were trotting to the wire, but Oh So Pine was the toughest of them all and won by one-half length in 1:57.4. 

The Stalbaum-owned and trained Oh So Pine ($6.20) got his third win of the year and raised his cash total to $64,199 in 2022. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 31) at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a carryover of $1,502 in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 in race 12. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab.

Photo courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery

Surfer Beach hangs 1:52.3 on Batavia feature field

By Tim Bojarski

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Surfer Beach took a while to get the lead but when he did he finished the job this week, winning the $15,000 Winners-Over I Handicap at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Aug. 27).

Last week's feature winner Stratosphere (Drew Monti) was first to the front and held that position until the :27.3 quarter when Surfer Beach (Jim Morrill Jr.) went to the head of the class. With little resistance over the next half mile, Surfer Beach hit the half in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:24.4, where a luke-warn outside challenge from Blue Spanx (Keith Kash Jr.) failed. As the pacers turned for home, Stratosphere popped the pocket and tried to catch Surfer Beach like he did just one week ago, but Surfer Beach had more in reserve this week and paced home in :27.4 to win by 2-¼ lengths in 1:52.3.

It was the second win in the last three starts and fourth overall this year for Surfer Beach ($3.20) who is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing. Maria Rice trains the winner. 

Morrill ended the day with three wins and Rice scored two of her own. 

Then in the $14,000 Winners-Over II Handicap, Out On Bail tripped out to his seventh win of the year. 

For horses left but Out On Bail (Jim McNieght III) was first to the front, until Daylight Rush (Dave McNieght III) decided to vacate the pocket in lieu of the lead at the quarter. The race then proceeded to the half in :57.4 when Long Train Running (Drew Monti) came first up and pacing towards Daylight Rush. Positions remained unchanged as they moved to three-quarters where Long Train Running started to fade which gave Out On Bail the room he needed to tip into the stretch. McNeight did pull Out On Bail at the head of the lane, passed Daylight Rush shortly after and then held off all late challenges to win by 1-¼ length in 1:54.3. 

Out On Bail is owned by Mike Torcello and is trained by Sammy Smith, who had two winners on Saturday.  

Kevin Cummings had a big night scoring a driving grand slam that included a natural hat trick in races three, four and five. He won with China Dream (1:56, $6.70), Best Brew (1:58.1, $21.00), Gallery Opening (1:56.4, $18.40) and Beachboydesire (1:55.3, $51.00). 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Sunday (Aug. 28) at 1:15 p.m. and there will be a carryover of $1,270 in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 in race 12. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab. 

Photo courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery

American Dealer N breaks all-time track record in $75,000 Kane Memorial at Batavia Downs

By Tim Bojarski

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American Dealer N scored a 2-½ length victory and set a new all-time track record of 1:50.2 in the 17th edition of the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Aug. 26).

American Courage (Matt Kakaley) fired off the wings and took a quick lead while American Dealer N (Joe Bongiorno) also left and tucked into the garden spot. After getting to the quarter in :27.1 and the half in :55.3, Gia's Surreal (Brian Sears) was first to pull and try to approach the leader. But American Courage was not slowing down after the :27.3 third quarter and he and American Dealer N were starting to separate from the field. As they came off the turn and headed down the lane, American Dealer N ducked into the passing lane and accelerated like a jet by American Courage in deep stretch and won in 1:50.2 to set the new track standard. 

It was the sixth win of the year for the Australian import American Dealer N ($26.80) who is owned by Enviro Stables and Ken Jacobs. 

This was the second Kane win for Jacobs and Toscano who won the 2008 edition with Kenneth J who also set the all time track record then of 1:52 with his effort that day. 

It was also the third win of the night for Joe Bongiorno. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 27) at  6:00 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab.

Slay wins thriller in NYSS at Batavia Downs

By Tim Bojarski

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The New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts, geldings and fillies were held at Batavia Downs on Friday evening (Aug. 26) with a total of $232,700 in purses available for the 17 state-bred participants. There were two divisions for fillies and a lone male division that had a purse of $119,800 and that was a heavyweight fight. 

Slay (Chapter Seven-Swinging Royalty) got a perfect trip from driver Joe Bongiorno and ran down Molotov Cocktail in deep stretch to claim a narrow victory.

World At War Deo (Wally Hennessy) took over the lead from Chapheart (Trond Smedshammer) at the :28 quarter and got a short breather to the half before the action really picked up. Molotov Cocktail (Brian Sears) was the first to pull and Slay was happy to get his cover as they moved around turn three on the second circuit.  

They headed up the backside in two rows with World At War Deo still in front with Molotov Cocktail right by his side as they motored to three-quarters. Around the last turn, Molotov Cocktail took the lead in the middle of the track and Slay tipped off his cover going three deep, and the pair hooked up from there. The two trotters were at full speed down the stretch, matching strides all the way. Molotov Cocktail and Slay were inseparable under strong urging from their drivers until just before the line where Slay got a neck in front and won in 1:55.4. 

It was the second straight win and fourth of the year for Slay ($4.60) who now has $262,897 made in 2022 for Crawford Farms Racing and James A. Crawford. Tony Alagna trains the colt bred by Jonas Schlabach.

Then there were the girls. 

The first field of four fillies vied for $55,900 and Cash Fusion (Chapter Seven-Swing Anna Cash) delivered as expected. 

Tyler Buter took Cash Fusion off the gate while In A Tiny Way (Jordan Stratton) settled in the lead. But that last only an eighth of a mile before Buter rushed the front and took command. The group remained single-file until the five-eighths when La Vie En Blanc (Joe Bongiorno) pulled first up and leveled off in second outside of In A Tiny Way. Around the last turn Cash Infusion started to swell up and opened up 1-½ lengths by the top of the stretch. Down the lane Buter sat chilly as Cash Infusion coasted home on top by 2-¼ lengths in a new lifetime mark of 1:55.3. 

It was the third win of the year for Cash Infusion ($4.40) who has now earned $132,723 this year for owners  William Donovan, Purnell & Libby, Joe Sbrocco and the George Ducharme Stable. George Ducharme also trains the winner that was bred by Jonas Schlabach. 

The second group of five lined up for $57,000 Valentina Blu (Chapter Seven-Corazon Blue Chip) was very strong in victory. 

Seven On The Rocks (John Stark Jr.) went quickly for the lead but the spot was short-lived as Joe Bongiorno took over with Valentina Blu before the quarter that went :29.1. There were no changes in order until the backstretch when Je Suis Si Belle (Andy Miller) charged the leader with She's A Scorcher (Jordan Stratton) following close behind. The top four trotted in two rows around the last turn with only three lengths between them until they straightened out. In the stretch, Valentina Blu dug in under a drive and opened up by 1-½ lengths at the light and won in 1:56.1.

It was the second win in a row and third of the year for Valentina Blu and pushed her 2022 earnings to $122,125. Crawford Farms owns the Tony Alagna trained filly that was bred by Spring Haven Farm and Doug Millard. Due to multiple stable entries, Valentina Blu raced for purse only. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 27) at  6:00 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab. 

Photo courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery

Funatthebeach N heads best Kane field ever at Batavia Friday

By Tim Bojarski

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The 17th edition of the Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace will be held at Batavia Downs on Friday (Aug. 26) and with the $75,000 purse being the highest ever offered, has drawn the highest quality field ever seen since the race was instituted. With combined earnings of just under $5 million between the eight starters, the 2022 edition should place the track record of 1:51.1 in jeopardy and prove to be the most memorable yet.

Funatthebeach N was claimed last September at Yonkers Raceway for $75,000 by owner Mark Ford and it has been the days of wine and roses ever since. He went on to win three Yonkers Open paces and finished second by a length in another to Tattoo Artist in the track record tying time of 1:49.3. This year he won two legs of the Borgata series at Yonkers before taking the $549,000 final in April. In June he took his second major stake after winning the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park in 1:49.2 which also gave him a new lifetime mark. Since that time he has continued to be a force in the best class at The Hilltop and comes into Friday’s race as the second richest aged pacer of 2022 (behind only Bulldog Hanover) with $546,197 in earnings. He is also the richest horse in this race with $879,946 made lifetime.  

American Courage won seven straight New York Sire Stake races at two before taking his first defeat in the final. He came back at three and won the $500,000 Messenger Stake at Yonkers and competed in both the Meadowlands Pace and the Little Brown Jug. This year he paced the eighth fastest mile of the season at Mohegan Sun Pocono in July when he scorched the oval in 1:47.4 in a 6-1/4 length romp. He has since won two Open paces at Yonkers in identical 1:51 miles and comes into this race razor sharp off a 1:48.3 second place finish to Allywag Hanover at Mohegan Sun Pocono just six days ago.   

Gia’s Surreal is the only female in this field and only the second ever to start in this race. She raced at Batavia as a 2 and 3-year-old and knows this track well. This will be her first start back at her home track since August 5, 2020. Over the past two years, she has faced the best Open female pacers in North America week in and week out and is held in the same esteem as Lyons Sentinel, Racine Bell, Test Of Faith, Majorca N, Amazing Dream N, Rocknificent and Siesta Beach. She has done some of her best work over a half-mile track as is evidenced by her work at Yonkers since 2021.

Splash Brother has raced at Batavia Downs three times during his career competing in the NYSS, but this will be his first start back since 2020. That was the year he took his lifetime mark of 1:48.2 at the Meadowlands. Last summer he was race timed in eight sub-1:50 miles out of 10 straight starts including a 1:47.4 clocking where he has beaten only 2-3/4 lengths at the Meadowlands. He continues to flaunt his speed at five, taking a seasonal win mark of 1:48.4 at the Meadowlands, being race timed in 1:47.2 in the $98,000 Roll With Joe Stake in July he and comes into Friday’s race off a sharp 5-1/2 length win at Yonkers in 1:51 flat. It’s also a homecoming for trainer Ray Schnittker who is originally from nearby North Tonawanda, NY and started his career racing at Batavia Downs.

Semi Tough is another Yonkers Open regular who finished third in the $549,000 Borgata final behind Funatthebeach N in April. He was given a couple months off after that series and only has three starts back since that time. This horse has a lot of back class after earning just short of $500,000 as a 2 and 3-year-old. The former Pennsylvania Sire Stake star was in a number of prestigious stakes during his career including the North American Cup, Little Brown Jug and Breeders Crown twice. Those appearances have pushed his lifetime earnings to $874,000, making him the second-richest starter in this race.

American Dealer N is a multiple Group One winner in the southern hemisphere that includes a victory in the 2021 Queensland Derby at Albion Park. He made his last start in Australia on December 4, 2021 and then landed in North America shortly after. He made his first U.S. start in March at the Meadowlands a winning one after a 1:49.2 effort in an upper-level condition race. Since that time he won a leg of the Borgata and two Opens at Yonkers. He was race timed in 1:48.3, beaten only a neck at the Meadowlands in May with a sparkling :25.3 final quarter. The following week he was race timed in 1:49.4 in the $100,000 Commodore Barry where he lost by only 2-3/4 lengths. He will face some familiar foes in this race.  

Wild Wild Western was unraced at two but competed in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at three as well as the $400,000 Adios, but that was pretty much the extent of his stake action. As a result, he has earned the bulk of his $484,025 in lifetime earnings the hard way --- in overnights. He has been a fixture in the Open class at the Meadows (where he took his 1:49.1 lifetime mark) and Northfield Park since 2020. Recently he finished third in the $100,000 Commodore Barry race timed in 1:49.2 and competed in Invitational paces at Hoosier Park and Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Moonshine Kisses has been lightly raced this year but he has tons of speed and knows how to win. The Saratoga-based pacer shipped to Massachusetts for his last three starts and really made a mark in the top class at Plainridge Park. His first outing there was a 1:49.3, 4-3/4 length win that not only gave him a new lifetime mark, but also tied the Plainridge track record for aged pacing horses. He then finished second to Allyouneedisfaith N by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:50.2 after getting parked the entire mile. He bounced right back in his last start and won again in 1:50.2. He is another blue-collar horse that just shows up and performs.

The $75,000 Kane Memorial will go as race nine with an estimated post time of 8:40 p.m. Friday’s card also features New York Sire Stake 3-year-old trotters of both genders competing for $232,700 in purses. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m. 

Photo courtesy of Mark Hall

Polka party hits the right beat for patrons at Batavia Downs

By Howard B. Owens

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Once the accordion and brass kick in backed by the drummer's strong 2/4 beat, you know it's polka time. And it's hard not to smile.

There were indeed no frowns in the crowd at Batavia Downs on Thursday night for a taping of WBBZ’s Polka Buzz featuring The Buffalo Touch.

"Polka is happy music," said band leader Ken Machelski between sets. "It's fun music. You know, people get up and dance, they laugh, the songs are all about having fun --  drinking beer songs, whatnot, you know, all about the ladies, you know, pretty, pretty ladies."

Polka has a rich and varied history and many cultures of the world have adopted the 2/4 time signature for their own variation of party music.  The Buffalo Touch, thrice nominated for Grammy Awards, has developed its own style of polka over its 27-year history.

"You mention polka to somebody that doesn't know anything about it and the first thing pops to mind, the most popular is the oompa-pa. Oompa-pa. Oompa-pa,  you know the German thing," Machelski. "And that's fine. That's a Polka 2/4 beat. The Italians have a Polka. Everybody has a Polka. But ours is a Polish Polka. Our type of music has been created and evolved from songs from Poland but done American style. We add our own American twist, you know, with a couple of horns, and concertina, the accordion, piano, drums, with the ensemble. It gives us a unique sound Americanized sound."

Batavia Downs Director of Marketing Ryan Hasenauer said he was more than pleased with the event, and suggested Batavia Downs may do another polka party again soon.

"We've got all these people that are enjoying some great Polish music," Hasenauer said. "We've got the Polish specials at the Homestretch Grill, some Polish vodka, some Polish beer and a sold-out hotel. What more can you ask for? It's great. I look around and everybody's having a good time."

Not bad, he said, for an event that Batavia Downs and WBBZ decided to partner on less than six weeks ago.

"One of the things that we pride ourselves on at Batavia Downs is we're nimble, we're quick, we're able to kind of, you know, find an event that we want to do, talk to the right people, and then put it down very quickly," he said.

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​Photos by Howard Owens.

Photo: Batavia Downs signs

By Howard B. Owens

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The signs in today's early evening at Batavia Downs.

Photo by Howard Owens.

Locally owned Gia’s Surreal comes home for $75,000 Kane at Batavia Downs

By Tim Bojarski

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Jim Graham is a longtime western New York horseman that has been training and racing at Batavia Downs since the 1980s. He has over 1,500 conditioning wins and in excess of $7.25 million in purses throughout his career. For a majority of that time, he has been a proponent of young horses targeted towards racing the full stake spectrum from county fairs to the New York Sire Stakes. But little did he and his partners Ed Peron and Lee Winters know that a little filly that they purchased five years ago named Gia’s Surreal would turn out to be a generational type of racehorse they would have a chance to race her back at their home track in the biggest overnight race ever held there.

The homecoming for Gia’s Surreal will be Friday night (Aug. 26) at Batavia Downs when she will face seven rivals in the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace.

Gia’s Surreal (So Surreal-Nancy Irene) entered the 2017 Morrisville College yearling sale as Hip number 2 and was purchased for $20,000 by Graham who broke and trained her until he was involved in an accident at Saratoga. She was then given to Brett Crawford who finished training her down leading up to her racing in the NYSS as a 2-year-old in 2018. That year she had a total of six starts in that series getting money in each and making the final where she finished fifth. But the filly never won a race in a total of nine starts in her freshman year.

Gia’s Surreal’s fortunes changed at three as she won four out of five NYSS Excel “A” races before finishing second in that final. She then transitioned into racing in the Open classes at Batavia Downs where she won three out of five to end the year that saw her in the winner’s circle 10 times.

After a delayed start due to Covid in 2020, Gia’s Surreal returned as an aged mare and eventually shipped north to Woodbine Mohawk Park where she ripped off three out of four wins while taking a lifetime mark of 1:51.4 in November. She continued to race in Canada until March of 2021 when the decision was made to add more tracks to her calendar in April.

“I thought she was a quality horse and I wanted to race her at Mohawk. But after she succeeded there we had high hopes that she could compete at the highest level. So we paid her into the Meadowlands events and Lexington and started making her schedule around those races,” said Graham.

Gia’s Surreal’s first start in New Jersey was a new lifetime mark of 1:50.3, a standard she would again lower to 1:49.3 later that year back at Woodbine. She was stellar at Yonkers and won the Open there in 1:52.1. And over the past two years she has made a plethora of stake starts on the Grand Circuit including the $160,000 Artiscape, $178,500 Dorothy Haughton, $191,050 Lady Liberty, $252,800 Roses Are Red, $189,600 Milton, $168,000 Dayton Distaff Derby, $175,000 TVG Mares final, $381,800 Blue Chip Matchmaker series, $100,000 Clara Barton and $100,000 Cleopatra Invitational.

The level of competition Gia’s Surreal has seen since 2020 is second to none. She has lined up against the likes of Lyons Sentinel, Racine Bell, Test Of Faith, Majorca N, Amazing Dream N, Rocknificent and Siesta Beach just to name a few. And at this top level to date she has amassed $713,380 in earnings from her 30 wins, 16 seconds and 16-thirds out of only 98 lifetime starts. That is just under a 30% win percentage and just over 60% in the money.

“She has been rock solid her whole career. We had a little issue with her front ankles late in the season last year and early this year she had a wall separation in her foot that caused her to miss two legs of the Matchmaker. But knock on wood, she’s been a very solid and sound mare,” explained Graham.

As for the Kane this week, Gia’s Surreal is only the second mare to compete in this race. Artistry In Rhythm started in the 2010 edition for driver Ken Holliday but did not fare very well, however that is nothing more than a footnote 12 years later. Gia’s Surreal is the third richest and second-winningest starter in this race and starts from post two for Hall of Fame driver Brian Sears. With her class and ability, there is no doubt that “Girl Power” could reign supreme for Gia’s Surreal on Friday against seven male rivals who would be at the top level of competition in any racing jurisdiction in North America.

“This is a great field of horses and it will be a true test of her savvy obviously, but we’re not afraid of anybody. When we were asked if we’d be interested in racing in here I knew that many Open male pacers would be entering the Canadian Pacing Derby eliminations so I was fairly certain that none of the top-top echelon Grand Circuit boys would be entered. So I said, sure we’ll come for it,” said Graham.

“She seems excellent coming in. She spent a few days at the farm, on the treadmill, in the field, and then she just jogged the rest of the week. I feel great about bringing her home and I’m glad I was asked to be here. It was an honor to be included with this caliber of horses.”

Moving forward Gia’s Surreal is paid into every major mares race until the end of the year. Next week she goes back to Canada for the Milton, then she will ship back to Dayton and then The Red Mile. Assuming that she’s still in top form, she will finish the year in the Breeders Crown at Mohawk and the TVG at the Meadowlands.  

Post time for the special Friday card that also features New York Sire Stakes 3-year-old trotters of both genders vying for $232,700 in total purses is 6 p.m.

Photo courtesy of New Image Media

Slay, Molotov Cocktail to battle in NYSS at Batavia Friday

By Tim Bojarski

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The New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotters of both genders will be contested at Batavia Downs during a special Friday night card (Aug. 26) with $232,700 in purses, as well as points up for grabs for horses that still need to solidify a spot in the finals at the Night of Champions at Tioga Downs on Saturday (Sept. 10). 

The marquee event will be the $119,800 division for colts and geldings where two 2022 Hambletonian elimination competitors will square off.

Slay (Chapter Seven-Swinging Royalty) is currently tied as the second fastest 3-year-old trotting colt in North America as a result of his 1:51, :26 flat last quarter victory in the $125,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial at the Meadowlands in July. Two weeks after that he was in the $100,000 Hambletonian elimination where he was beaten only 3-¾ lengths although he missed making the final. But he bounced right back in a NYSS event at Saratoga where he handily won gate to wire in 1:54.3 and 1-½ lengths ahead of Molotov Cocktail. That was also his fastest win time ever recorded over a half mile track.

Slay has been competing against the best sophomore trotters in the country all year including Joviality S, Jiggy Jog S and Temporal Hanover and as a result, has amassed $202,997 in earnings this year putting him seventh on the list among all North American 3-year-old male trotters. In the NYSS series he is currently tied for second in points (125) with Cool Papa Bell and is third in earnings ($84,825) and has his sights firmly on the finals in two weeks. 

Joe Bongiorno will be in town to drive Slay from post five for trainer Tony Alagna. 

Molotov Cocktail (Chapter Seven-Moonlight Cocktail) was the NYSS 2-year-old male trotting champion last year and returned strong for his second campaign. He took an early season lifetime mark of 1:52.2 at the Meadowlands in an overnight event which is one of only two wins for him this year. But the second came last week in the $200,000 Earl Beal consolation at Mohegan Sun Pocono, where he scored in 1:52.4. In between he was beaten only 4-½ lengths in his Hambletonian elimination and although he didn't make the final, followed that up with a very impressive third in the $50,000 Muscle Hill at the Meadowlands where he was race timed in 1:51.4 after being parked most of the mile.

Molotov Cocktail has also encountered many tough trotters on the trail this year having faced off against Hambletonian winner Cool Papa Bell and Rebuff and his 2022 efforts put him 10th in North America for earnings among all 3-year-old male trotters. However because of his Grand Circuit schedule he has only two NYSS starts where he finished second both times. That currently puts him in a three way tie for eighth in points and he needs a top finish here to ensure a trip to the lucrative final at Tioga.

Brain Sears will drive for Hall of Fame trainer Linda Toscano and they will leave from post four. 

The fillies will go in two fields and there does appear to be a standout in each group. 

The first $55,900 division features Cash Infusion (Chapter Seven-Swing Anna Cash) who has had a very full dance card this year. She competed in the $187,500 Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs, $126,165 New York New York Mile at Yonkers Raceway, $123,000 Zweig Memorial at Vernon and $33,500 Continental Victory at the Meadowlands where she finished third and was race timed in 1:52.3. Plus she took money in all four of those events against very tough fillies like Joviality S and Jiggy Jog S while competing in much fuller fields. A big plus is her 1:57 lifetime mark that came on the half mile track at Saratoga earlier this spring. She did break at Monticello in her last start but recovered nicely to be beaten by only three lengths. 

Trained by George Ducharme, Cash Infusion will leave from post four with Tyler Buter at the lines. 

Looking to upset is In A Tiny Way (ConwayHall-Mc Tiny’s Hope) who was unraced at two but has had an outstanding year at three, starting with a win in her first stake engagement in a $15,000 Excel “A” race at Tioga Downs in a lifetime best 1:54.3. She has since gone on to do some of her best work on twice-arounds, winning in 1:57.3 at both Yonkers and Monticello Raceway, the latter in her last start which was a NYSS event.  

Jordan Stratton will drive from post two for trainer Mike Simons. 

Then in the $ 57,000-second leg, Valentina Blu (Chapter Seven-Corazon Blue Chip) comes in with the credentials to be a prohibitive betting favorite at post time. Last year she finished second in the $200,000 NYSS final to Joviality S, third to Venerable in the Mohawk Million and second in the $294,580 Kindergarten Classic making up the bulk of her $336,703 first-year earnings. This year she has only made five starts back thus far but two of those were NYSS wins. She also finished third in the $187,500 Empire Breeders Classic behind Joviality S and Bare My Soul, who she is currently tied with for top NYSS points in her division. After finishing sixth in the $123,000 Zweig she took a month off and won her first race back at Monticello in handy fashion. This is definitely a prep race for the finals for this filly. 

Joe Bongiorno will steer for trainer Tony Alagna from post two. 

Seven On The Rocks (Chapter Seven-Spicedbourbongirl) is a five-time winner this year but none have come in stake action despite being very competitive in his NYSS starts. She’s A Scorcher (Chapter Seven-Chilitodayhotamale) just got beat in 1:57.2 in a NYSS race at Buffalo in June but has since faced very formidable company over bigger tracks at both Oak Grove and The Red Mile in Kentucky Sire Stake action. Both will look to upset the probable favorite. 

John Stark Jr. trains and will drive Seven On The Rocks from post three while Jordan Stratton will drive Tony Alagna’s entry She’s A Scorcher from post five. 

The NYSS are carded as race one, three and eight. There are also four $15,000 Excel “A” series events carded as race two, four, five and six.

Friday’s card also features the 17th Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace that has a stellar field of eight top Open pacers slated to go postward in race nine for $75,000 which is the highest purse ever offered in this race. 

Post time for race one is 6 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Lisa Photo

First look: New warehouse at Batavia Downs is finished

By Mike Pettinella

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Batavia Downs Gaming's new warehouse and cold storage building at the south end of the Park Road facility is complete. The 5,000-square-foot, $1 million structure provides a central location for the corporation's varied food, beverage and hospitality inventory.  From left are Ashley Bolsei, warehouse manager; Scott Kiedrowski, vice president of operations; and Ryan Hasenauer, marketing director.

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Bolsei and Hasenauer stand outside the loading dock of the building, which was constructed by Ed Hulme General Contracting of Warsaw.

Photos by Mike Pettinella.

WROTB directors extend pact with law firm as they seek answer to health insurance question

By Mike Pettinella

Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. leaders are taking steps to address the company health insurance policy that has been a media hot button item in recent months.

The corporation’s board of directors this morning approved a resolution to spend up to $25,000 to extend a contract with the Connors LLP law firm of Buffalo, with the goal of reaching a “global solution" to the health insurance matter.

“I’ve been instructed (by the board) to come back in September with a plan to globally address the healthcare issue for the whole company,” WROTB President/Chief Executive Officer Henry Wojtaszek said following the meeting at the Park Road facility. “We’re working on a nice, fair global solution to whatever healthcare (is permissible) and that includes the board and entire corporation.”

Wojtaszek said lawyers are negotiating with the New York State Attorney General’s office.

“He’s (Terry Connors) prepared a memo that he’s provided to the attorney general and he’s provided advice to our board,” he said. “Talks with the attorney general are continuing.”

Published reports about the “gold plated” health insurance plan given to board members have prompted protests from Western New York politicians and government officials – present and past. Until June of last year, all board members (and three retired ones) were receiving health insurance plans that cost the public benefit company an average of more than $10,000 per year.

The board, at its June 2021 meeting, voted unanimously to eliminate company-sponsored health insurance benefits for directors appointed on or after July 1, 2021. So, as of today, the majority of the board members are still receiving fully-paid health insurance.

In other developments, the board:

  • Approved the purchase of $50,000 worth of $20 gift cards from Tops Friendly Markets to be used toward a promotion for the Hotel at Batavia Downs for eligible hotel stays through the end of the year.
  • Announced that $61,498 in surcharges generated in July will be distributed to member municipalities. Also, it was reported that Batavia Bets’ revenue is down 16 percent this month as compared to last August, and 17 percent for the year as compared to this time in 2021.
  • Learned that management is looking to reduce the number of summer concerts from 11 to nine next year in an effort to attract top name bands and, hopefully, eliminate tribute bands. “The purpose is to possibly spend a little bit more money to get bigger bands, for lack of a better term, in order to attract bigger crowds,” Wojtaszek said. When asked if security was an issue this year, he said the combination of Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies, Batavia Police Department officers and the Downs’ security staff handled things well.
  • Reported that the Park Road Reconstruction Project is moving along, noting that crews were laying the binder on the east side of the road and that sidewalks are being put in on both sides. “We expect the road to be open after Labor Day and we expect substantial completion -- 97-98 percent of the project -- done by September 20th,” Wojtaszek said. (See photo below).

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Shallow takes second straight Batavia distaff Open

By Howard B. Owens

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Since shipping in from Saratoga Raceway, Shallow has taken her spot at the top of mare's colony at Batavia Downs after winning her second consecutive $15,000 Open I Handicap on Wednesday evening (Aug. 24). 

Dashintothebeach N (Luke Hanners) took an early lead heading to the quarter but Ray Fisher Jr. sent Shallow out early from third to grab the front at that station in :27.3. After crossing over she then slowed the pace to a tepid :30 second quarter before Tuapeka Jessie N (Jim Morrill Jr.) came first up in the breeze. 

Heading up the backside, Shallow maintained an easy lead with Dashintothebeach N in the pocket, and Tuapeka Jessie N and Shadow One (Kevin Cummings) on the outside chasing. Heading into the last turn, those challenges fell short as Shallow extended her lead to two lengths around the bend. When she turned for home, Shallow paced away from the field on her own volition to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:55. 

It was a career-best ninth win of the year for Shallow ($5.30) who now has $73,916 earned for owner Room4040 Stables. Andy Gardner trains the winner. 

Then in the $14,000 fillies and mares Open II Handicap, Canadian invader Saulsbrook Olympia (Dave McNieght III) grabbed the front and put on quite a show. With How About Murph (Kyle Cummings) and Sapphire Love Chip (Kevin Cummings) right behind trying to keep pace, Saulsbrook Olympia got to the half in :58.1 and then turned on the jets. She paced back-to-back quarters of :28.2 and :28.1 while opening up a 3-1/4 length advantage at the line where she won in 1:54.4. 

It was the second straight win at Batavia and third consecutive win going back to her impressive 1:50.3 outing at Woodbine Mohawk Park for Saulsbrook Olympia ($5.10) who is owned by William McNeil and Edward Gorc. Jennifer Giuliani trains the fast mare. 

Kevin Cummings was the leading driver of the night with three wins on the card and his third win came with the venerable 14-year-old Freaky Flyer. The Freak turned his 450th lifetime start into his 62nd career victory and pushed his total earnings to $370,549. Freaky Flyer ($12.00) is owned and trained by Rose Russo. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs with a special card on Friday night (Aug. 26) featuring New York Sire Stakes 3-year-old colt and filly trotters who will compete for $232,700 in purses and the 17th edition of Batavia Downs signature stake, the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial pace. Post time for the first race is at 6:00 p.m.

Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab.

Photo courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery

$75,000 Kane Memorial field drawn for Batavia Friday

By Tim Bojarski

This Friday (Aug. 26) Batavia Downs will present a special card of live racing that will feature both colt and filly 3-year-old divisions of New York Sire Stake trotters who will compete for $232,700 in purses. But the card will also feature the renewal of Batavia Downs signature stake, the Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace. 

Not held in 2020 or 2021 due to Covid, the Robert J. Kane Memorial returns this year with its 17th edition and is the richest ever offered with the new enhanced purse of $75,000.

With the draw now complete, the 2022 field has an all-star cast including the $549,000 Borgotta MGM and $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie winner Funatthebeach N, top Open pacing mare and only female in the field, the locally-owned Gia’s Surreal, recent 1:47.4 Pocono winner American Courage, and current 1:49.3 Plainridge Park track record holder Moonshine Kisses. The eight horse field has combined earnings of just under $5 million 

Here is the full field for the race.

  1. Funatthebeach N Jordan Stratton Jeffrey Gillis

  2. Gia’s Surreal Wally Hennesy Jim Graham

  3. American Courage Matt Kakaley Travis Alexander

  4. Semi Tough Wally Hennesy Ron Burke

  5. American Dealer N Joe Bongiorno Linda Toscano

  6. Splash Brother Tyler Buter Ray Schnittker

  7. Moonshine Kisses Jay Randall Jackie Greene

  8. Wild Western Jim Morrill Jr. Norm Parker

The Robert J. Kane Memorial is named for the former chairman of the board of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation (which owns and operates Batavia Downs and Gaming), Robert J. Kane. Kane worked on the board for 26 years and in 1998 saw the value in purchasing the track that had been shuttered for three years after having its license revoked. The facility has gone through a complete turnaround since then and WROTB has developed the property into the premier entertainment destination in Genesee County.

The first edition of the Kane was held in 2002 and has compiled a long list of champion horses that have come to Batavia to compete over the years. They include three-time winner and all-time highest money earner in the history of the sport, the $7.6 million dollar man Foiled Again. Other winners include Dosudoro Hanover, Bolt The Duer, Atta Boy Dan, Kenneth J, One More Laugh and Aracache Hanover, who set the all-time track record of 1:51.1 winning the stake in 2011. 

The $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial will go as race nine on Friday’s card with an approximate post time of 8:40 p.m. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m. Free full past performance programs for all live race nights at Batavia Downs can be downloaded at bataviadownsgaming.com under the "live racing" tab.

Davis and Kreiser clean up at Batavia Downs on Sunday

By Tim Bojarski

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Punters playing Batavia Downs on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 21) may have thought they were at Northfield Park by mistake after two of Ohio’s top horsemen, driver Billy Davis Jr. and trainer Cory Kreiser, shipped in for the day and ended up leaving with a lot of purse.

Davis was on fire, winning six of the 11 races he drove on the card including four horses that were trained by Kreiser, who watched a total of six stable members go postward. 

Davis struck early and often, getting a natural hat trick right out of the box in races one, two and three with Osprey Vision (2:00.2, $4.00), St. Lads Gidget (1:56.1, $2.90) and Charmbo Orbit (1:56.2, $4.80). Then after finishing third in race four, Davis registered another natural hat trick in races five, six and seven with I Saw You Blink (1:59.3, $4.10), That’s A Bad Boy (1:58.2, $2.10) and Cinderella Delight (1:56.4, $3.90). Northfield’s third leading driver posted a .575 UDR for his work on Sunday.

Kreiser’s four winning trainees were St. Lads Gidget, I Saw You Blink, That’s A Bad Boy and Cinderella Delight. Kreiser, who is currently the top conditioner in Cleveland, also posted some gaudy numbers as a result of his one day success in Genesee County. He headed west on the 90 with a lofty .666 UTR to take home. 

The two races neither Buckeye won were the featured trots.

In the $15,000 Open I Handicap, Keystone Apache (Jim Morrill Jr.) left from post seven, comfortably led the entire race and held off a late charge from Sanchez Rocks (Drew Monti) to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:57 flat. It was the third win in the last four starts and seventh win overall this year for Keystone Apache ($4.10) and it pushed his earnings for the year to $96,684 for Vogel & Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing. Maria Rice was the winning trainer. 

Then in the $14,000 Open II, Cash N Chrome (Drew Monti) sat the pocket trip behind Batting Stats (Keith Kash Jr.) until the last turn when he tipped three-deep around Pilgrim Caviar (Dave McNeight III) and trotted home under no urging whatsoever to win by 2-½ lengths in 1:58.4. Cash N Chrome ($5.80) got his fifth win of the year for owners Michael Collins and Angus Mac Donald, who also trains the trotter. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 24) at  6:00 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab.

Photo courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery

Three Open paces topped Batavia’s card on Saturday

By Tim Bojarski

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Three Open paces with purses totaling $42,500 were featured on the Saturday night card at Batavia Downs (Aug. 20) and speed was the order of the night.

The $15,000 Open I Handicap was won by Just Plain Loco who started off slow but finished with a rush.

Just Plain Loco (Dave McNeight III) got away fifth while Drunkonaplane (Jim Morrill Jr.) led the field with My Money Honey (Kyle Cummings) in the pocket. After getting to the half in :57.3, McSpidey (Shawn McDonough) pulled from third with Just Plain Loco in tow and both started to approach the leader. McSpidey got to within a head of Drunkonaplane at the top of the stretch, but Just Plain Loco was on overdrive three-wide and heading down the lane, paced by everyone in a swift :27.4 final quarter to win by 1-¼ lengths in 1:54. 

It was the fifth win of the year for Just Plain Loco ($6.00) and it pushed his earnings to $74,270 for his owners Paul Lang and Mark Toth. Jennifer Giuliani trains the winner. 

McNeight scored the driving hat trick on Saturday while Giuliani scored two training wins.  

In the $14,000 Open II Handicap, Stratosphere also finished strong to win and tied the fastest pacing mile of the meet so far in the process.

Leaving from post six and three respectively, Surfer Beach (Jim Morrill Jr.) took the front while Stratosphere (Drew Monti) was content with the garden spot journey. Morrill guided the group through quarters of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:24.3 before they headed into the far turn. Halfway around that bend Blue Spanx (Keith Kash Jr.) joined the fray from third along with Yankee On The Move (Kyle Cummings) who was already swingin three deep. But when they hit the top of the stretch it became a two horse race when Stratosphere ducked into the passing lane, matched strides with Surfer Beach to the line and then forged ahead by one-half length to win in 1:52.4, taking a new seasonal mark.

Stratosphere ($11.20) got his fourth win of the year for his driving owner Drew Monti, on the preparation of his trainer Darrin Monti. 

Drew Monti ended the night with two driving wins. 

Finally in the $13,500 Open III, Flying Finn N captured his first win of the meet at Batavia in a gate-to-wire jaunt. 

Flying Finn (Kyle Cummings) took a quick early lead and was never headed from there. After controlling the pace through fractions of :28.3, :58 and 1:26.2, Cummings hit the gas and Flying Finn N scorched the last quarter in :27.3 to win by 1-¼ lengths in a season’s best 1:54. 

Flying Finn N ($3.00) chalked up his fifth win of 2022 for owner William Emmons and trainer Jim Clouser Jr. 

Cummings finished with two driving wins during the card. 

Other horsemen scoring multiple wins Saturday were driver Jim Morrill Jr. with three and Kevin Cummings with two. Trainer Lee Dahn also doubled up. 

Photo courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery

Photos: Dire Straits Legacy at Batavia Downs

By Steve Ognibene

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A legend of British rock, Dire Straits has sold over 120 million albums worldwide. Dire Straits Legacy brought back its iconic music Friday evening at Batavia Downs, performed by musicians who recorded and toured with Dire Straits more than 30 years ago.

Alan Clark was Dire Straits’ first keyboardist, Phil Palmer and Danny Cummings both recorded "On Every Street," Mel Collins on singles "Love Over Gold" and "Twisting by the Pool," and Jack Sonni on the international bestseller "Brothers in Arms." All have performed live with Dire Straits on multiple global tours.

Other DSL members include bassist Trevor Horn (The Buggles, Yes), one of the world’s greatest record producers, Primiano Di Biase, Europe’s most in-demand and sought-after keyboardist, and last but not least, frontman Marco Caviglia who is widely regarded as the world’s leading authority on Mark Knopfler’s unique guitar-playing style.

Drawing from six platinum albums, DSL’s incredible live show features all of the classic Dire Straits hits, including "Money for Nothing," "Sultans of Swing," "Romeo and Juliet," "Walk of Life," "Brothers in Arms," "Tunnel of Love," and many more.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

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Harness Writers Association to present annual awards at Batavia Downs on Saturday

By Press Release

Press release:

Every year since 2008 the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs have honored the top human and equine performers of the meet during the Night of Distinction which is held on the track’s final night of racing. Unfortunately the final night at Batavia Downs last year was canceled due to inclement weather.

Although these awards were announced, the actual hardware was never distributed. So on Saturday (Aug. 20) a formal presentation will be held in the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle at approximately 5:30 p.m., between qualifiers and the first race of the evening to take care of this unfinished business.   

The following is a list of the 2021 award winners along with a summary describing the accomplishments of each.

President’s Award - New York State Assemblyman Steve Hawley
Always working for the betterment of the community as a local businessman, Steve Hawley took it one step further in 2006 and was successfully elected to office in the 139th New York Assembly District and has been proudly serving his constituents ever since.    

Hawley has always been a friendly acquaintance of Batavia Downs and he grew to understand how integral the sport of harness racing is to the agricultural infrastructure in Genesee and surrounding counties. While in office serving on the racing and wagering committee and currently the agriculture committee, he has fought hard to protect the people that racing employs both directly and in supporting industries.

Since 2010 Hawley has sponsored his “Night At The Races” at the Downs bringing thousands of people who otherwise might not have come to the track, and introduced them to the sport that has been a mainstay of the economic fabric of Batavia for eight decades.

Tim Bojarski, President of UNY-USHWA said “I have known Steve for a long time and have witnessed first hand his passion for this community and his appreciation for the sport of harness racing. He genuinely understands the intricacies of the business and how hard our horsemen and women work to ensure the well-being of our horses while earning a living in a very difficult industry. Our organization is proud to present him with this gesture of our appreciation.”

Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO of Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel said “Throughout the years, Steve has been a champion not only of Batavia Downs but of the entire racing and gaming industries. He has introduced many people to our historic race track all while supporting legislation that helps the people of New York who work for the casinos and tracks and it’s through Steve’s hard work that our industry continues to grow and prosper. We congratulate Steve on receiving this well-deserved award.”

Unsung Hero - Jami Chatt
Jami Chatt has been around horses since she could walk and was introduced to harness racing by her grandfather, western New York racing legend Fred Haslip. And although she has groomed, jogged and trained horses all her life and currently competes the pacer Mateo, she also works daily in her full time career as a special education teacher in the Sweet Home school district, so there’s not a lot of free time to be had.

Despite all her personal commitments, Chatt still goes above and beyond for anything that puts harness racing in a positive light and has been doing it for years, especially when it comes to charitable concerns.

Chatt spearheaded the 2013 fundraiser for injured driver Anthony Coletta that raised raised $12,835, the 2015 fundraiser for driver Brad Hanners family that raised over $11,000 and several years ago, joined in to help the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester’s annual fundraiser at Batavia Downs to solicit trainers, drivers and owners both at Batavia and then later, at other tracks, to donate a percentage of their purse the night of the event to the BCCR. Since Chatt has gotten involved, the final donation number has grown exponentially and the 2021 total was a record $19,653.  

Chatt also works hard to introduce new fans to the sport. Each year she brings families and friends who are not associated with racing to the track and even holds a “field trip” for her fellow teachers, and then spends her night schooling them on the finer points of handicapping.

Rising Star - Kyle Cummings
It comes as no surprise that Kyle Cummings has been one of the best drivers in western New York despite a very brief career to this point, as he hails from a family deeply rooted in racing. His father Todd Cummings, mother Tammy Cummings, grandfathers the late John Cummings Sr. and Hugh Stevens, grandmother Cindy Stark-Casale, uncles John Cummings Jr., Tony Cummings, Kevin Cummings, John Stark Jr., Doug Ackley and aunt Laurie Stark have all been successful trainer/drivers spanning the last 45 years. So he had a wealth of knowledge to draw from and clearly he paid attention.

Cummings got his first pari-mutuel win in April of 2019 with a pacer named Jude Hall and his production at the track took off from there, but to say he had a break-out season in 2021 would be an understatement. In only his third year in the bike, the 21-year-old doubled his win and earnings output posted over the first two years of his career. In 2021 overall he has driven 721 races with 109 wins, 107 seconds and 101 thirds and has bankrolled $688,417 in purses.

Cummings was also the leading dash driver on the New York Sire Stake fair circuit and was named the NYSS County Fair Driver of the Year during their awards ceremony last November. During that competition he had 50 starts with 26 wins, 19 seconds and one third and earnings of $60,942 while racing across the state. That equates to a phenomenal UDR of .738 for that series. He also won two of the finals held at Goshen Historic Track in September.

Driver of the Meet - Jim Morrill Jr.
Jim Morrill Jr. had the driving title all but wrapped up halfway through the meet last year as he got off to a hot start in July and burned his way through November. Morrill finished the meet with 365 starts, 116 wins, 72 seconds and 45 thirds to post a stellar .468 UDR. Those 64% in-the-money finishes garnered his connections $716,607 in earnings making him the top earner as well.

Kevin Cummings finished second with 68 wins and $501,663 in purses and Kyle Cummings was third with 48 wins and $380,999 banked.

Trainer of the Meet - Jennifer Giuliani
Jennifer Giuliani was in a tight trainer race all last year but came out on top with 41 wins, 25 seconds and 21 thirds out of 146 starts that produced $208,757 in earnings and a UTR of .424. Her horses hit the board 60% of the time and she also trained the Batavia Downs claimer of the meet, Raksmach N.

Maria Rice finished second with 40 wins and $312,757 in purses (which made her barn the highest earning stable on the grounds) and Gerry Sarama was third with 36 wins and $235,060 earned.

Trotter of the Meet - Barn Hall
It’s not too often a 3-year-old trotter can come in and not only compete with, but beat older Open campaigners, but Barn Hall proved it can be done. After racing successfully on the New York Sire Stake Excel A circuit all summer, Barn Hall settled in at Batavia and became a powerful top class performer for the entire meet. He hit the board 12 out of 14 starts, winning four times and earning $42,092, which was the most won by any trotter at the meet this year. Plus he took his lifetime mark of 1:55 at Batavia after winning an Open trot in October.  

Barn Hall was owned by Steve and Nancy Pratt, Wanda Polisseni's Purple Haze Stable and the Out In The Country Stable and was trained by Steve Pratt.

Pacer of the Meet - Art Scene
Art Scene was a relatively new acquisition for trainer Maria Rice when he came to Batavia, after being claimed at Yonkers Raceway last June for $25,000. But his new home track suited him just fine as he went on to have the winningest year of his career. While racing at Batavia, Art Scene won six Open paces and finished second twice out of his 13 starts at Batavia and put $43,765 in the bank, making him the richest pacer on the grounds last year. He won his first start and last start at the track and took his seasonal mark of 1:53.3 in between.

Mare of the Meet - Protect Blue Chip
Protect Blue Chip surpassed all her previous career numbers in 2021 and excelled in her 11 starts at Batavia Downs. She hit the board eight times, winning four Opens while finishing second and third twice each, netting her $35,142 in purses. Her best win time of 2021 was 1:54 taken at the Downs in September and it was also her fastest career win over any half-mile track. Plus it was the third consecutive year she took her seasonal mark at Batavia Downs.  

Art Scene and Protect Blue Chip are both owned by Vogel & Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing and are trained by Maria Rice.

Claimer of the Meet - Raksmach N
Raksmach N also had the best year of his career in North America since landing here in 2018 from New Zealand and the bulk of his success came at Batavia Downs. During the meet he had six wins in only nine starts and earned $29,150 in purses. But he also paced the fastest mile of his life over a half-mile track on September 18 at the Downs when he scorched the oval in 1:52.3, winning by 5-1/4 lengths for driver Jim Morrill Jr. Five of Raksmach N’s six wins came in claiming races of $15,000 or higher.

Patsville, Gotthegreenlight win NYSS at Batavia

By Tim Bojarski

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Two $57,000 divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies were on tap on Wednesday (Aug. 17) at Batavia Downs and 10 of the state's best bred female side-wheelers were on hand to compete for their share of it. 

In the first division, Patsville (Hunstville-Major Master Piece) had her own way going gate to wire in handy fashion. 

Patsville (Tyler Buter) took control of the race after Two Proud (Pat Lachance) made a break in turn one after trying to leave. With Wine N Dine Me (Jason Bartlett) and Kele Kele (Matt Kakaley) following intently, Patsville cut quarters of :28.3 and :57.4 before anyone made a forward attempt. 

Motoring up the backside, Kele Kele pulled from third and made her way to second on the outside as they were moving past three-quarters. But that challenge fell through when she made a break in the last turn. That left only Wine Me Dinner Me to catch the leader and she couldn't, as Patsville closed out the mile on top by a length in 1:53.3. 

Patsville ($9.10) boosted her earnings to $130,229 this year on the strength of her third victory for owners William C. De Long and William P. De Long. John Butenschoen trains Patsville, who was bred by Ross Bonafield. 

Later in the second split, Gotthegreenlight (American Ideal-Bet On Luck) held off a late rush to claim her fifth win in her last six starts.

Gotthegreenlight (Jason Bartlett) out-left Lee Loo (Tyler Buter), grabbed the lead and then hit the brakes to control the pace. Bartlett took the group to the quarter in :28.4 and the half in :58.1 and even then, no right lines were pulled. As they moved onto the second circuit, Gotthegreenlight had a two length lead and finally A Girl That Twirls (Jim Morrill Jr.) tipped out from third and started to advance, forcing a :28 flat third panel.

A Girl That Twirls continued to pace on and looped Lee Loo before the turn and then dropped back in second, right on Gotthegreenlight's back. As they were heading into the home stretch, A Girl That Twirls came back out and paced up alongside Gotthegreenlight, who appeared to be tiring. And although she was just about even with her, Gotthegreenlight had enough left to turn back A Girl That Twirls at the wire to win by one-quarter length in 1:53.2.

Gotthegreenlight ($2.20) has now amassed $208,131 this year for owners Patricia Stable and Kovach Stable. Nifty Norman trains the filly that was bred by Stephen P. Day.  

Bartlett ended the night with two wins on the card.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 20) at  6:00 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab. 

Photo by Wendy Lowery

Gotthegreenlight looks formidable in NYSS at Batavia Wednesda

By Tim Bojarski

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The New York Sire Stakes returns to Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 17) with $114,000 in prize money to be split up in two five horse, $57,000 divisions for 3-year-old pacing fillies and Gotthegreenlight comes in hot and looking for her share. 

Gotthegreenlight (American Ideal-Bet On Luck) was the 2-year-old champion of her NYSS division last year and has come back just as good at three. With five wins in only eight starts in 2022, Gotthegreenlight is currently the second highest earning 3-year-old pacing filly in North America behind only Treacherous Dragon. She is the top NYSS earner ($136,660) and points-leader (208) in her category and is as versatile filly as you could find.

She has won on all-size tracks both on the front and from behind, and ran off four straight wins in stakes action before getting beat by only 3-¼ lengths in a 1:49.3 mile after being parked to three-quarters in 1:21.3 in the Shady Daisy at the Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day. Besides already equalling her own career mark of 1:51 this year, Gotthegreenlight also broke the 9-year-old Yonkers track record for 3-year-old pacing fillies with her 1:51.3 effort on July 12. She may do the same on Wednesday to the 11-year-old Batavia standard of 1:52.4 set by New Album in 2011. 

Gotthegreenlight has her regular pilot Jason Bartlett in the bike for trainer Nifty Norman and has drawn post five.

Charged with the task of beating the more than certain post time favorite is A Girl That Twirls (American Ideal-Heels On The Beach) who had been racing very well until last week. After reeling off three stakes wins in May and June, A Girl That Twirls was off almost a month but then finished second in NYSS action at Tioga Downs timed in 1:51.3. However last week she made an uncharacteristic break in the first turn at Saratoga and finished distanced as a result. Assuming that was an aberration, post two and Jim Morrill Jr. driving gives A Girl That Twirls the best shot for the upset here for trainer Deborah Daguet.

Lee Loo (Huntsville-Taiya Hanover) is winless in NYSS action this year but has shown ability and speed in winning miles of 1:50.2 in a qualifier and 1:51.2 in an overnight at the Meadowlands. However her best work has not been over a half mile track. Driver Tyler Buter will try to change that for trainer Tony Alagna from post four. 

The other division is a very much wide open event with three fillies that can be considered very closely rated.

Kele Kele (So Surreal-Lightning D Dube) is the second highest money ($113,119) and points (161) earner behind Gotthegreenlight in NYSS action and has been on the board 11 of 11 starts this year. Her two NYSS wins both came over half mile tracks including her lifetime best outing of 1:53.1 at Monticello. Matt Kakaley is back in the bike for trainer John McDermott and will leave from post four. 

Patsville (Huntsville-Major Master Piece) took a lifetime mark of 1:50.2 at Hoosier Park prior to starting in the NYSS this year and hasn’t missed a check in the series since. That has her listed third for earnings ($84,169) in her division despite only having one win. She was recently race timed in 1:51.1 at Tioga Downs in a third place finish and must be considered a player starting from the pylons. Trainer John Butenschoen has Tyler Buter up once again. 

Two Proud (American Ideal-Double Creme) comes into this race with only six lifetime starts, three of which were this year. She has shown much improvement in her two NYSS outings with a 1:51.4 fourth place finish at Tioga followed by a 1:54 second place finish at Saratoga, both with :27 and change final quarters. Two Proud is moving in the right direction and with starting from the middle of this five horse field, she should be in play for the win. Pat Lachance will team for trainer Jeffrey Smith.  

The NYSS races are carded as four and seven. There are also two $15,000 Excel “A” series events that will go as race five and eight. Post time for race one on Wednesday is 6 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Fotowon

Sanchez Rocks rolls to victory in Batavia Downs Open

By Tim Bojarski

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Taking full advantage of post one and a perfect trip, Sanchez Rocks posted his second win in his last three starts at Batavia Downs in the $15,000 Open I Handicap trot on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 14). 

Sanchez Rocks (Drew Monti) yielded the front to Lunar Credit (Jim McNeight Jr.) off the gate and then followed him to the top of the stretch. With no pressure from the field, Lunar Credit set tepid fractions of :29.1, :59.4 and 1:29.3 to three-quarters, where he and Sanchez Rocks started to separate from the field. Coming off the last turn, Sanchez Rocks tipped out and trotted alongside Lunar Credit, who dug in and tried to close out his effort. However Sanchez Rocks was in full stride and under minimal urging, trotted past Lunar Credit at the line by a head to win in 1:58.2. 

In what is turning into a career year for the winner, Sanchez Rocks scored his sixth win of 2022 and that boosted his bank to $52,947 for his owner Marie Houghtaling. Ron Houghtaling trains the trotter. 

Monti finished his card with a hat trick to lead all drivers on Sunday. 

The fastest trot of the day came in a $9,500 mid-level condition event where C R Blazin Beauty (Dave McNeight III) dropped down from Open II company, drew pylon position and scorched the track in gate to wire fashion with a 1:57.1 effort that gave the 1-9 shot a new seasonal mark. C R Blazin Beauty ($2.10) is owned by Marissa Russo and trained by David Russo. 

McNeight III and Russo both registered doubles on the card in their respective categories.  

The Jackpot Super Hi-5 was hit in race 11 and the single unique ticket sold on the combination of 1-7-2-8-5 returned $2107.30 for the 20-cent wager. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 17) at  6:00 p.m. THe New York Sire Stakes will be in town featuring two fields of 3-year-old pacing fillies going for a total of $114,000. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab.

Photo by Wendy J. Lowery

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