harness racing

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

On Wednesday (Sept. 25) the Pick-5 pool at Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel will be guaranteed at $2,500. 

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

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

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs has a long history of lady drivers competing at the track going back to the 1950’s. Names like Edith Mouw, Mary Ann Sarama, Cindy Stark, Laurie Stark, Anne Wheeler, Jeanette Byer and Myrtle Patistas were regulars at the Downs for decades. But it has been a fairly male-dominated track when the gate has swung open in recent years.

That all changes on Wednesday (Sept. 25) when one of the top distaff sulky stars in North America ships into Batavia to take on the local driving colony.

Jennifer Lappe got into harness racing in 1993 when she bought a trotter off an Amish truck. That horse eventually won three races for her but defined what she has described herself as being in a 2018 interview -- “a salvager."

Lappe sees value and potential in horses many others may not and isn't afraid to take on the challenge of an older horse or a horse with issues and has capitalized on that over time.

Lappe’s career training numbers are excellent: 4,990 starts with 858 wins, 771 seconds and 690 thirds, which means she’s hit the board 46 percent of the time and has earnings of $5,678,220 to show for it.

She started her driving career in the Midwest on county fair circuits in Illinois and Iowa before moving on to pari-mutuel racing at Balmoral Park in Crete, Ill., after that. In 2007 Lappe made the move to New York and is now based out of Campbell Hall, which is not far from Goshen.

From 2008 until 2018 Lappe used primarily catch drivers to capitalize on the healthy purses in New York. But she returned to the bike full time last year and has really put up some impressive driving numbers in a very short amount of time.

Over the past two years Lappe’s driving has yielded 73 wins out of 653 starts with 111 seconds and 108 thirds. That’s 45 percent in the money with $429,693 in earnings. 

Currently in 2019, Lappe has the best Universal Driver Rating (.267), second highest earnings ($194,562) and third highest amount of wins (34) among all female drivers in North America with 300 or more starts this year.

For the better part of this season Lappe has raced at Vernon Downs, but has also shipped horses to Monticello Raceway, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and now Batavia. Lappe also had a successful stint at The Meadowlands during the winter of 2018.

Lappe's regular starts in Central New York have given her an outstanding meet at Vernon where she currently sits fourth in the overall trainer standings with 27 wins; only nine behind the leading Marissa Chadbourne (36). She is also eighth among all drivers for wins.

Earlier this year Lappe made history at Vernon when she drove her top class Open pacer Bettor’s Edge to a 1:50 win in June, which was the fastest win time ever recorded by a female driver at that track. And that win time was only 2/5ths of a second off the world record of 1:49.3 set by Stacy Chiodo and Mighty Young Joe at the Meadowlands in 2014.

With her operation still spread over multiple tracks, Lappe will test the waters in Genesee County where she will ship four of her stablemates this week. Dreamlands Art (Artsplace-Dreamlands Delilah) 1:49.3 ($751,244), Beyonces Rockn (Rock N Roll Heaven-I’m Betting On you) 1:51 ($278,850), Lucky Man (Camluck-Under Her Spell) 1;49.1 ($1,268,345) and Electrofire (Electric Stena-Temples May Day) 1:50 ($608,812) will all be competing at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening.

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

(Photo of Jennifer Lappe courtesy of Lisa Photo and Frances Blazer.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

One of the most recognizable voices in the sport of harness racing in North America is that of Frank Salive. With decades of race calls to his credit and a wide and varied career resume besides, Salive will bring his “dulcet tones” to the oldest lighted harness track in North America on Friday (Sept. 27) when he makes Batavia Downs the 75^th track that he has plied his trade at. 

"Over the years in my travels, Wally Hennessy and Bud Gilmour told me a lot of great things about racing in Western New York and I'm ecstatic to be invited to get involved with this great time of harness racing here," Salive said.

"After my time at Pompano ended I tried early retirement from 2012-2014 but I could not shake the racing bug. Now I'm in my fourth season at nearby Fort Erie Race Track and still fill in at great harness tracks like Batavia when the need arises. I'm very excited to be coming down." 

A native of Leamington, Ontario, Canada, Salive’s first exposure to harness racing was at Windsor Raceway in 1972 at the age of 17 when he saw Albatross compete there. But his career path did not take him directly to the announcer's booth.

Salive first played junior hockey with the Peterborough Petes as their starting goaltender under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Roger Neilson. He played there for three years, culminating with an appearance in the first World Junior Hockey Tournament in 1974 when the Petes beat Team Russia in Leningrad.

As a result of his outstanding play, Salive was named the top goaltender in the series and most valuable player of the tournament. He was later drafted in the 10^th round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1975 amateur draft.  

Salive never played for the Penguins, instead opting for a career in broadcasting. He worked in radio and television in Windsor and covered the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal for CTV in Canada.

Although his broadcast resume grew, his heart was calling him back to the track and in 1977 he took his first professional job calling races at Sudbury Downs. He later assumed that same role at Windsor and in 1991 moved to the number one job in Canada, covering all the harness action at Woodbine and Mohawk Raceway. There he called thousands of races from 1991 until 2005 including such prestigious events as the North American Cup.

Most recently he has worked at Western Fair, Pompano Park and Fort Erie Race Track, where he currently is the full time Thoroughbred announcer since 2016.

Salive called his 150,000^th horse race at Kawartha Downs in 2017 and after that race, thanked everyone in harness racing who over the years worked so hard to make the races happen so that he had the privilege of calling them. 

Aside from his extensive body of work in hockey and racing, Salive is also a movie star of sorts, having had a role in three notable films. In 2005 Salive had a part in the movie “A History Of Violence” starring Viggo Mortenson, Maria Bello, Ed Harris and WIllam Hurt. Then is 2006 he was in “Lucky Number Slevin” with Bruce Willis, Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman and Danny Aiello, and in 2009 he had another part in “Life Of Charlie."

Salive will also be on hand at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 4) to take on the calling duties one more time. 

Post time for both nights is 6 o'clock.

(Photo of Frank Salive, courtesy of Pompano Park.)

Photo of Sir Pugsley with driver Drew Monti.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Oh Canada! The Ontario based owner-trainer combination of Robert Woodburn and trainer Patrick Shepherd shipped south on Saturday (Sept. 21), enlisted the services of resident reinsman Drew Monti and then watched as their stable stars Sir Pugsley and Down On My Luck took the top two paces of the week at Batavia Downs. 

In the $12,000 Open I Handicap, Sir Pugsley took an early seat at the back of the pack in the abbreviated field of five while Some Attitude (Shawn Gray) went to the half at his own pace of :56.3. As the field was rounding turn three, Monti got Sir Pugsley underway at the five-eighths and the afterburners were on. Sir Pugsley took off like a jet and went from fifth to first during the third quarter timed in :28.1 and continued his assault in the turn where he cleared and opened up two-lengths by the time they hit the stretch. There, Sir Pugsley just strode away down the lane to win by 2-¾ lengths in 1:53.2.

It was the fifth win of the year for Sir Pugsley ($3.30) who now boasts $63,395 in purses this year. 

Then in the $11,000 Open II Handicap, Down On My Luck left sharply along with Notabadgame (John Cummings Jr.) who took the lead and cut unchallenged fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:25.1 in the first three panels of the race. Monti pulled Down On My Luck from the pocket at that point, sat in the breeze around the far turn and ran down the leader in the stretch to win by 2-½ lengths in 1:53.3. 

It was the third win in a row at Batavia Downs for Down On My Luck ($5.10) and seventh victory of the year overall. The 5-year-old son of Camluck-False Alert had now earned $41,487 this year.

Monti and Shepherd completed a driver-trainer hat trick in the final race of the night when Fool Me Once ($5.10) pulled second-over from fourth at the half and put the swoop to the group three-wide around the last turn to win by 2-½ lengths going away in 1:54.1. Carl Kuepfer owns the winner. 

Billy Davis Jr. also had a driving hat trick on the evening.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Sept. 25) with post time set at 5 p.m..

Photo of Lougazi with driver Ray Fisher Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Using his usual method of starting slow and finishing fast, Lougazi scored his seventh win of the year in the $12,500 Open I Handicap trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Sept. 20).

With Southern Palms and Jailhouse Buckaroo breaking off the gate, the abbreviated field of six turned into an immediate quartet led by Rose Run Speedster (Shawn McDonough) who took the group to a moderate half of :58. Keystone Apache (Billy Davis Jr.) pulled first-up followed by Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) and the backstretch got a little more interesting.

The top four horses were within two-lengths of each other and the tempo quickened with a :28.2 third quarter. With everyone having a shot coming off the turn, Keystone Apache made a break, leaving Lougazi uncovered and finding new gears. Fisher got after him and Lougazi trotted up a storm down the lane, making up a 1-3/4 length deficit and then stretching out to a 1-1/4 length victory in 1:56.1.

On the strength of that win, Lougazi ($3.90) pushed his bankroll to $72,250 this year for owner Mary Warriner and trainer Ryan Swift.

In the $11,000 Open II trot, Put On The Day (Jim Morrill Jr.) bounced back from a disappointing break last week to score a one-length victory off a three-wide move at three-quarters in a seasonal best performance of 1:57.3. Put On The Day ($11.80) is owned by his driver Morrill and is trained by Steve Andzel.

Morrill had a total of four wins on the card to lead all drivers on Friday.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on tonight (Sept. 21) with post time at 6 o'clock.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

HP Sissy has been racing in the shadows of the mares competing in the top distaff class at Batavia Downs of late, settling for minor spoils since her only win in Genesee County this year on Aug. 7.

But with a renewed sense of purpose and a driver change that reunited her with the reinsman she scored her first win of the year with in February, HP Sissy went a dominating mile in gate to wire fashion to win the $12,500 fillies and mares Open Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening (Sept. 18). 

HP Sissy (Drew Monti) left fast and hard and towed the abbreviated field of six to the quarter in :27.2. Tailed closely by Lady London (Ray Fisher Jr.), HP Sissy backed down the second panel to :29.3 which pushed the favored Blue Bell Bonnie (Jim Morrill Jr.) off the cones and into the breeze. 

Although there were horses in pursuit, they really weren’t a challenge to HP Sissy who was loose on the front up the backstretch. After hitting three-quarters in 1:25.2 by an open two-lengths, she rounded the turn and extended her lead to three with Monti sitting statuesque and from there, HP Sissy scooted home an easy wrapped-up winner in 1:53.3, which was a new seasonal mark for the winner. 

It was the 10th win of the year for HP Sissy ($5.70) who has now earned $85,093 in 2019 for owner Finocchario’s Dream Stable. Mike Ohol trains the winner.

The co-featured $11,000 fillies and mares Open II pace saw Kaitlyn Rae (Billy Davis Jr.) outmuscle several leavers for the top and finally settled there to cut speedy fractions of :27.3, :56.1 and 1:25.2 before turning for home and stretching out to a 1-½ length victory in 1:55.3.

It was the 65th lifetime win for Kaitlyn Rae ($4.00) who now has won $442,878 in her career. The 10-year-old daughter of Cheyenne Rei-I C U Lookin is owned and trained by Riley Asher-Stalbaum.

The venerable Lightning Raider N (Jim Morrill Jr.) won his 62nd career race, timed in 1:56.3 on Wednesday and pushed his career earnings to over $650,000. The uber-game 14-year-old gelded son of Christian Cullen-Talent Hanover will retire on Jan. 1 but continues to show that his heart and ability has not diminished with time. 

Several horsemen had multiple wins on Wednesday led by Jim Morrill Jr., Dave McNeight III and Billy Davis Jr. with three wins each followed by Drew Monti with two. Trainer Riley Asher-Stalbaum also had two wins on the conditioning side. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 20) with post time set at 6 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

On Wednesday (Sept. 18) the Pick-5 pool at Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel will be guaranteed at $2,500. 

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

Wednesday’s guaranteed pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are available courtesy of Trackmaster on the USTA’s website (www.ustrotting.com).

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Seven industry publicists and handicappers give their selections for the $1.8 million New York Sire Stake Night of Champions finals and the $50,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational pace tonight at Batavia Downs.

Dave Brower-Meadowlands broadcaster, handicapper and oddsmaker

Race 2

7-2-1

Zero Tolerance has been virtually unbeatable in NY so far this year, but could get a nice test from the outer draw. So Awesome has picked up her game of late and might be able to sit a "garden trip" with a big kick at the end.

Race 3

3-7-8

Let's take a shot here with Quincy Blue Chip, who benefited from the post draw over Winndevie! She has beaten that foe a couple of times and I think her inside edge will make the difference, AS long as she trots!

Race 4

7-4-1

Merga Hanover should have no trouble crossing over in here and has been the dominant force on the NYSS circuit so far. I'm not even worried about the outside post. She's simply the best of these.

Race 5

2-3-4

Hypnotic AM hasn't lost yet this year and it's not going to happen tonight, after the very "friendly" draw of post two. This is just a killer in the making, and I hope we get to see her go Grand Circuit in Lexington (Ky.) after this.

Race 6

4-1-5

Dorsoduro Hanover got a nice break after "keeping up" in the McKee on Hambo Day and had the perfect prep for this at Scioto. This is a race he will be "aimed" for and I think he just outclasses these for the Burke Brigade and Matty K.

Race 7

8-1-4

Just to make things interesting, Groovy Joe got stuck behind the eight-ball, but it might not matter. He's beaten pretty much every horse in the field already and he's also proven he can overcome a bad post. Easily best with no American Rebel around.

Race 8

6-7-2

In the night's most wide-open contest, I think Berkery J might have a little speed edge on the outside-drawers. Sears was listed on two in and I hope he took this one. That will put the Ducharme colt over the top!

Race 9

7-2-4

If you want to bet against Gimpanzee, I suggest you go buy a hot dog instead! Post seven won't matter for this super-talented Melander-trained colt and it's on to the Grand Circuit against his stablemates after this.

Race 10

1-4-6

I've really enjoyed watching Hickfromfrenchlick mature this season for the duo of Schnittker and Kakaley. This is a real nice colt, and he's getting better and more mature. The draw puts the race in Matty's capable hands, and I think they will be very tough to catch!

Michael Carter - Social Media and Publicity Directo - USTA

Race 2

2-3-7-1

This race becomes a little more wide open with Zero Tolerance drawing toward the outside. She hasn’t raced from the outside on a half in a while and that is obviously a little concerning. So Awesome has been a consistent filly who has the speed to ration out the fractions.

Race 3

6-3-7-2

Pilgrims Lass added Hopples and seems to be over whatever breaking issues she may have been having. She is one to watch late as she will be coming from off the pace.

Race 4

7-1-4-3

Merga Hanover is going to be a tough beat from out here, the start three back from post six at Batavia is really hard to ignore. I’m not sure that you beat her here.

Race 5

2-3-8-4

This is going to be an interesting race, because the top three horses have only faced each other once a piece and so far its been all about Hypnotic AM. She is a tough filly, who already has proven her Grand Circuit potential.

Race 6

2-7-4-3

My hometown hero, Southwind Amazon, gets a try against Grand Circuit caliber again tonight. He has been able to hold his own against some of the top level horses, look for him to be sneaky good tonight.

Race 7

8-1-5-3

While post eight will be tough to overcome, Groovy Joe has raced from out here before with little to no problems. Not sure you’ll get much of a price on him, but I like his chances.

Race 8

3-5-2-7

This is one of the more competitive Sire Stakes finals of the night and that makes it a fantastic betting race. Hobbs gets some much needed post help, and if he fires like he did two back after a perfect trip, he wins.

Race 9

2-7-5-8

This becomes a whole new race with Gimpanzee drawing the outside, even though he is the obvious class of the race. Lucky Weekend gets Morrill back in the bike and if anyone can win from this spot and take down the champ it’s him.

Race 10

4-1-8-3

Shake That House entered even though he is eligible to the Jug on Thursday, he looks to rebound following a tough effort in the Empire Breeders Championship. He is as versatile as they come. This is a whole new race with American Mercury skipping.

Bob 'Hollywood' Heyden - Handicapper

Race 2

3-7-6

Excellent and one of the more wide open NYSS events, Sulky Queen reunites with Sears and gets the jump on the outside leavers.

Race 3

8-7-3

Get those Pick-4 tickets going and don't be shy about hitting #8 a few times. Remember that sire Credit Winner won the first SIX NYSS finals he was ever in back in 2004-2005!

Race 4

8-7-3

NO-this is not a mirror image-the SAME numbers two races in a row. A very consistent sort Galleria Gal can take advantage of a lot of uncertainty (XTRA Lead changes) and roll by late.

Race 5

2-3-8

Melander and a perfect freshman Hypnotic AM -- I think we've seen this movie before. Division championship will be hers with a win tonight and a Breeders Crown.

Race 6

4-5-6

2018 Jug Runnerup but then the divisional champion Dorsodoro Hanover finds himself in a good spot to get the latter half of his season rolling. This should be a barn burner.

Race 7

8-7-5

Groovy Joe has never been worse than second-including three back when he started from the same post. Lukewarm call for him in a race where you might want to hit the all-button if you've caught something early.

Race 8

7-5-1

Chaptiama has gotten hot at just the right time for Trond Smedshammer. Bred by Winbak Farms, remember they more than doubled any other breeder in the NYSS program in 2018 with better than $1.8 Million and are on the doorstep of their 10,000th winner!

Race 9

7-5-2

Gimpanzee The King should have no issue dispensing these en route to his 15th career win. His stirring Yonkers Trot win was everything it looked like and more.

Race 10

3-1-8

Arties Deal is my upset special for the night. The rail is sure to get way overbet, and the leavers figure to be many. His 2 and 3 YO season look amazingly alike 2/11 at 2 125G; 2/11 at 3 134 G. Good spot to get his REAL season into gear.

Ken Warkentin - Track Announcer - The Meadowlands

Race 2

7-6-3

Zero Tolerance draws a challenging post, yet the undefeated top points-getter in her NYSS division is tough to deny fresh off an easy win @ Batavia.

Race 3

2-8-7

Stella Jane just missed to Sensibility with a perfect trip @ Yonkers, that may have signaled a return to top form & she has the inside advantage on the major players in here.

Race 4

1-7-6

The Fun Marshall was a solid runner up to Merga Hanover last out @ Vernon Downs, a rousing winner @ Saratoga before that & now has rail control to trip out.

Race 5

2-3-8

Hypnotic AM has simply been flawless for the red-hot Team Melander, Grand Circuit caliber filly draws inside where Brian Sears can control her destiny.

Race 6

6-4-7

Hayden Hanover, a 1:47.3 Meadowlands performer this season, regained form in his last two, just missed to Iamarocknrollegend N last out @ Yonkers.

Race 7

3-8-5

Save Me A Dance was a hard-charging second in the Sheppard Final, tuned up with a solid third @ Tioga Downs & draws inside the standout Groovy Joe.

Race 8

4-7-9

Note the 1:54.4 tally @ Vernon Downs on 7-25, rebounded with a close second last out, plenty of potential here & Ake Svanstedt will have him primed for the big money.

Race 9

7-8-4

2018 undefeated Dan Patch Award winner Gimpanzee was a very good third in the Hambletonian Final & crushed in the Yonkers Trot, world-class colt.

Race 10

4-1-3

Shake That House was a decisive upsetter in the Hempt, got torched in the EBC, regrouped & draws well for the rematch with Hickfromfrenchlick.

Gordon Waterstone - Associate Editor - The Horseman And Fair World

Race 2

2-3-7

Zero Tolerance is obviously the one to beat and will be the betting favorite, but So Awesome has a post advantage so let’s take an early stab that she’ll use that to turn the tables and pull the upset.

Race 3

3-8-7

Quincy Blue Chip has only beaten herself this year so as long as she tends to business she will be tough to collar. Winndevie and Sensibility should be moving forward off the gate and if the choice makes a mistake, they’ll be the ones taking advantage.

Race 4

1-7-3

Merga Hanover has been nearly flawless but again the post advantage here goes to The Fun Marshall and that gives her the edge to finally reverse the order.

Race 5

2-3-8

Hypnotic Am comes into the race unbeaten and she will come out of the race unbeaten as she looks head and shoulder above the rest. Seventimesalady is the horse to key underneath for exotics.

Race 6

4-2-3

Dorsoduro Hanover finally gets away from Lather Up and outside posts, and that combination should make the difference and lead to victory. Toss Southwind Amazon’s last start as well as Hitman Hill’s, and you have the rest of the ticket filled.

Race 7

5-8-1

If Groovy Joe had drawn anywhere inside he would have been hard to beat, but post 8 negates his advantage so the edge goes to Cigars And Port, who should get a great trip in here. But don’t overlook Sandy’s Bolt, who has post 1 and comes in off a layoff and heavy backing in his previous attempts.

Race 8

6-8-7

The early speed is all on the outside here and it seems likely Berkery J and Bourbon Express will be the last ones to the front. It will be a battle from there, but don’t overlook Barn Holden or even Chaptiama, who has won two straight.

Race 9

7-5-4

It’s not a question if Gimpanzee wins here, but a question of “by how many lengths?” He’s in his own league here, and among the other starters give Livinonthedash the nod.

Race 10

1-4-3

Hard to imagine a scenario from post 1 that Hickfromfrenchlick won’t have the lead at the first-quarter call, whether he forces the issue or there is some quick give-and-take. Shake That House could be auditioning for a Little Brown Jug appearance here so a big effort is expected.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Keystone Apache was a dominant force in the $10,500 Open II trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Sept. 13) and scored his eighth win of the year in the easiest of fashion.   

Keystone Apache (Billy Davis Jr.) left slowly and made a gradual attack at the lead. He got there by the quarter in :28.4 and from that point on, the race was over. With a two-length gap for the next half mile, Keystone Apache stopped the timer in :57.3 and 1:27.3.

With the plugs having already been pulled before that the station, Keystone Apache extended his lead to four-lengths heading into the final turn and maintained it into the stretch. Davis had little left to do as his horse was off and gone; Keystone Apache jogged across the wire by three lengths in 1:58.2. 

Keystone Apache ($6.40) upped his 2019 income to $62,092 for owners Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Adelphi Bloodstock. Maria Rice trains the winner.  

Several horsemen had multiple wins on Friday. Dave McNeight III and Shawn McDonough led the way with three driving wins apiece while Jim Morrill Jr. and Billy Davis Jr. each had two. Trainer Maria Rice also had two winners. 

The $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions that are comprised of eight $225,000 races will be held at Batavia Downs on tonight (Sept. 14) with a first race post time of 6 o'clock.

Peter Kleinhans will be the track’s guest host and handicapper for the in-house and simulcast broadcast and Heather Wilder will be in the Purple Haze winner’s circle interviewing the winners and all their connections after each stakes race.

There will be two $7,500 guaranteed pools in both the early and late Pick-4 wagers that night and both will be all-stake Pick-4s (races 3-6 and races 7-10). The pools are part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program and free program pages will be available on the USTA’s website and through links on the Batavia Downs Facebook page when they become available.

Free full card programs are now available for download from the Daily Racing Form Harness.

There will be a T-shirt giveaway courtesy of the NYSS on Saturday night as well. Fans attending the races live only need to swipe their Player’s Club card at guest services starting at 4:30 p.m. to receive a ticket to get their shirt after the seventh race.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

When 64 of the best New York-bred trotters and pacers enter the paddock at Batavia Downs for the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Night of Champions on Saturday (Sept. 14), there will be three horsemen that will have a homecoming of sorts as their careers all got started in Batavia at the oldest lighted harness track in America.

Ray Schnittker from Tonawanda, Steve Pratt from Corfu (inset photo, right), and Chris Oakes from Akron, all mastered the trade they have excelled in so well over the years at Batavia Downs.

Schnittker got his start in 1977 racing horses owned by his father. By the late 1980’s he moved his colors to New York City and found success driving on that major circuit. His rise to prominence in the sport eventually led to his greatest career success of a Hambletonian victory with his Hall of Fame trotter, Deweycheatumnhowe (Muscles Yankee-Trolley Square) 1:50.4 ($3,155,178). 

With his base of operations in Goshen, New York now for many years now, Schnittker has been a regular on the NYSS circuit racing many great 2- and 3-year-olds over that time.

Schnittker’s lifetime stats as a driver show 2,795 wins and $42,809,617 earned and as a trainer 1,266 wins with $39,755,029 in purses. 

This year Schnittker has three starters in the finals. 3-year-old pacing colt Hickfromfrenchlick (So Surreal-My Girl’s A Star) 1:48.4 ($414,427) and 2-year-old pacing colts Splash Brother (So Surreal-Sugarcoated) 1:54.2 ($48,961) and Cigars And Port (So Surreal-Sweet On Art) 1:55.3 ($79,851).

Hickfromfrenchlick has developed into one of the best sophomore pacing colts around. He currently has the sixth fastest win time of the year (1:48.4) for a 3-year-old and is the ninth richest ($275,866) second-year pacing male in North America. He has four NYSS wins this year, but he also won the $238,200 Empire Breeders Classic at Tioga in a lifetime best effort. He comes into the finals on a four-race winning streak and looks extremely tough to beat on Saturday. 

Pratt started in the business in 1970 and had much success racing overnights, and mostly trotters, at Batavia Downs. Although he competed his own stable part-time, he eventually got into racing young horses at the fairs and made the move to the NYSS in the 1990’s. 

Over the last eight years he has been a constant in this series with a string of highly competitive trotters that all had “Barn” in their names that also went on to be accomplished overnight performers as aged horses.  

A very high percentage trainer, Pratt’s career numbers show 236 wins out of only 823 starts and $2,785,646 in earnings; the bulk of which came in the last eight years competing in the NYSS. 

Pratt’s starter in the finals this year is 2-year-old trotting colt Barn Holden (Conway Hall-Barn Babe) 1:55.3 ($126,168) and he’s as solid a performer as any Pratt’s had to date.

Barn Holden is the points (224) and earnings ($126,168) leader in his division and comes into the final with three wins, two seconds and two thirds out of eight starts. His only lifetime start at Batavia was on August 7 when went wire to wire by 8-3/4 lengths in 1:57.1 to set a new track record for 2-year-old trotting colts. 

It’s a short ship from Corfu (where Pratt still lives) to Batavia and Barn Holden will return to the scene of that record Saturday to try and repeat his performance. 

Oakes got his trainer’s license in 1984 and campaigned horses for his father in western New York for several years. He made the move to Pennsylvania and (then) Pocono Downs in 1992 and it was there his career took off. A very winning and high percentage trainer, Oakes has won multiple training titles at his home track the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and his horses have won a plethora of major stakes across North America. 

In his career Oakes has sent 1,875 winners to post and has earned $28,853,311 in purses. 

Oakes has two starters in the NYSS finals this year and both are in the same division. They are 3-year-old pacing colts Shake That House (American Ideal-Shake That Junk) 1:47.4 ($452,804) and Buddy Hill (Roll With Joe-Lessofit Hanover) 1:52 ($141,313). 

Shake That House won two out of three NYSS starts this year but went on a real tear in between. He won his elimination and then the final of the Max C. Hempt Memorial at the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in back to back miles of 1:49 and 1:49.2. Then two weeks after that he scored his lifetime mark of 1:47.4 in his second NYSS win taken at Vernon Downs. That time annihilated the track record for 3-year-old pacing colts and was just one-fifth of a second off the all-time pacing track record there. 

After a two-week rest, Shake That House had a qualifying tightener that he won in 1:53.1 in preparation for this start and comes in fresh for the race. 

The $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions that are comprised of eight $225,000 races will be held at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 14) with a first race post time of 6 o'clock.

Peter Kleinhans will be the tracks guest host and handicapper for the in-house and simulcast broadcast and Heather Wilder will be in the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle interviewing the winners and all their connections after each stake race.

There will be two $7,500 guaranteed pools in both the early and late Pick-4 wagers that night and both will be all-stake Pick-4’s (races 3-6 and races 7-10). The pools are part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and free program pages will be available on the USTA’s website and through links on the Batavia Downs Facebook page when they become available. 

Free full card programs are now available for download from the Daily Racing Form Harness. 

There will be a T-shirt giveaway courtesy of the NYSS on Saturday night as well. Fans attending the races live only need to swipe their Player’s Club card at guest services starting at 4:30 p.m. to receive a ticket to get their shirt after the seventh race.

(Photo courtesy of Mark Hall.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Drivers competing in the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 14) will be available trackside for a meet and greet autograph session before the races get underway from 5-5:30 p.m.

They will be set up next to the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle for this event. 

Drivers who will be signing include Hall of Famer Brian Sears, Jason Bartlett, Tyler Buter, Corey Callahan, Matt Kakaley, Jim Morrill Jr. and Scott Zeron. 

"These guys have driven here multiple times this year and have developed quite a following from our fans," said Todd Haight, director/general manager of Racing. 

"We hope they take the opportunity to come down and talk face to face with some of the best drivers currently competing in North America before they hit the track for the biggest night of racing in the history of Western New York."

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

As a result of no one selecting a winning combination in the Pick-5 wager at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Sept. 11), there will be a $1,302 carryover and a $4,000 guaranteed early Pick-5 pool when racing resumes at 6 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 13) at the oldest lighted harness track in America.

Friday’s guaranteed pool is also part of the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program, which offers free program pages courtesy of Trackmaster for the Pick-5 races at Batavia Downs under the “Handicapping” tab at www.ustrotting.com. 

The Pick-5 is a 50-cent base wager that begins in race one and runs through race five. There is no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners, the entire pool (minus takeout) will be carried over once again.

(Photo of Zero Tolerance driver David Miller,​ courtesy of Fotowon.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Zero Tolerance comes into her $225,000 New York Sire Stake (NYSS) Night of Champions final at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 14) with quite a body of work. She is the undefeated top point-getter (250) and highest earning 3-year-old pacing filly in her division ($177,500) and is currently the fourth richest filly in North America overall this year with $382,423 on her card. 

She is a naturally talented filly that has been developed and managed masterfully by her Hall of Fame connections of driver David Miller and trainer Joe Holloway. 

Zero Tolerance was a first crop daughter of Heston Blue Chip and was a $30,000 yearling purchase at the Lexington Select Sale in 2017 and it’s no surprise why her trainer Joe Holloway decided to buy her based on a couple successful fillies he had previously raced. 

“I selected her for her maternal side. I had Somwherovrarainbow and Rainbow Room and they were both out of Rainbow Blue and I had good success with both them. And this filly is out of a sister to Rainbow Blue named Feelinglikeastar,” said Holloway. 

Zero Tolerance started her 2-year-old campaign strong with a win at the Meadowlands in 1:51.3. Her first NYSS race was the following week where she finished second by a neck after cutting the mile. 

After being sick and having three weeks off, she returned to the track and rattled off five consecutive wins including the Geers and Reynolds stakes at Tioga Downs and NYSS legs at Vernon Downs and Monticello Raceway. 

She did not race in the NYSS final, rather closed out the year with an aggressive Grand Circuit schedule where she won the Bluegrass at the Red Mile before finishing second in the Breeders Crown at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and the Three Diamonds at the Meadowlands. 

This year, Zero Tolerance came out of the gate and won her first three NYSS races by a combined 16-3/4 lengths. She hit the Grand Circuit again for two starts finishing second in the James Lynch Memorial at Pocono in 1:49.3 and fourth in the Mistletoe Shalee at the Meadowlands. She returned to New York and won the Empire Breeders Classic at Tioga in a lifetime best of 1:50.2 and two more NYSS races at Saratoga and Batavia to go five for five in the series.  

“She’s been good in the NYSS this year so far," Holloway said. "Each time she has raced she’s performed for us and that was the plan. When she looked like she was dominant, I was going to go to the Jugette.

"But where it’s New York, and it’s such good money, basically close to the same money as the Jugette after you’ve got to go heats, we decided to race here instead."

In that last start at Batavia, Zero Tolerance got away third to the half before pulling with cover up the backstretch and simply paced away from the field with no urging down the lane to win easily in 1:54.2.

There has been almost three weeks between starts for Zero Tolerance but her routine didn’t change that much. 

“As far as the time off, I usually don’t train her too much anyway," Holloway said. "So I trained her real hard a week out and I trained her lightly on Wednesday (Sept. 11). The seven hole doesn’t help us in the final but she’ll be alright."

“Overall she’s a nice filly although she gets a little bit high strung now and then. But a lot of my better fillies have been that way. Probably the biggest thing she does this year is she’s bad in the winner’s circle. She kicks and I don’t want her hurting herself so we haven’t been in the winner’s circle too long when she gets there.”

The NYSS final will not be the last race of the year for Zero Tolerance. Holloway indicated that she would be going to Lexington for two weeks before the Breeders Crown and the Matron. 

Zero Tolerance comes into the NYSS finals as one of the richest participants this year with $868,236 made lifetime and she will be looking to substantially add to that total on Saturday night.  

The $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions that are comprised of eight $225,000 races will be held at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 14) with a first race post time of 6 o'clock.

Peter Kleinhans will be the track's guest host and handicapper for the in-house and simulcast broadcast and Heather Wilder will be in the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle interviewing the winners and all their connections after each stake race. 

There will be two $7,500 guaranteed pools in both the early and late Pick-4 wagers that night and both will be all-stake Pick-4’s (races 3-6 and races 7-10). The pools are part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and free program pages will be available on the USTA’s website and through links on the Batavia Downs Facebook page when they become available. 

Free full card programs will also be available for download from the Daily Racing Form starting today. 

There will be a T-shirt giveaway courtesy of the NYSS on Saturday night as well. Fans attending the races live only need to swipe their Player’s Club card at guest services starting at 4:30 p.m. to receive a ticket to get their shirt after the seventh race.

Photo: Blue Bell Bonnie with driver Jim Morrill Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Blue Bell Bonnie has been one of the toughest mares competing at Batavia Downs this season. Coming off three wins in her last four starts and moving up in class, the mare went right to the front and never looked back in the $12,500 Open I Handicap pace for distaff participants at the Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 11). 

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. sent Blue Bell Bonnie to the front and proceeded unchallenged to the half in relatively mild :57.4. With the field still in single file as they headed into the third turn, HP Sissy (John Cummings Jr.) finally pulled first-over past the five-eighths and made a bull rush toward the leader, drawing alongside her in the backstretch. 

The two matched strides to the three-quarters and into the final bend before Blue Bell Bonnie found a new gear and started to pull away. With a clear one-length lead, Morrill urged Blue Bell Bonnie down the lane and she responded to win by a length in 1:54 over a fast closing Little Joke (BIlly Davis Jr.).

It was the eighth win of the year for Blue Bell Bonnie ($4.70) and it pushed her earnings to $52,798 for owners Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. James Clouser Jr. trains the 7-year-old daughter of Mister Big-The Girl Can Bet. 

In the $11,000 Open II fillies and mares pace, Mean Pauline (Shawn McDonough) got a perfect pocket trip behind Machin Marley (Jim Morrill Jr.) before popping the deuce at the top of the stretch and wrestling away the lead at the wire to win by a head in 1:57.

Now with four wins on the year and earnings of $30,756, Mean Pauline ($21.20) has already surpassed her efforts of last year for owner Harry Wortzman. Her driver Shawn McDonough also trains the winner.   

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. had a driving triple on the card to lead all reinsmen. 

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 13) at 6 p.m. there will be a guaranteed carryover pool of $4,000 for the Pick-5 wager. This will be part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages will be available for races one through five on the USTA’s website.

Above, Groovy Joe, the top 2-year-old pacing colt heading into Saturday's  $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Night of Champions at Batavia Downs. 

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs:

The top 2-year-old pacing colt heading into the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Night of Champions at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 14) proves you don’t have to be rich to be successful in harness racing if you do your homework. 

Groovy Joe (Roll With Joe -- Chotat Milk) p,2,1:52f ($174,595) was a $17,000 purchase at the 2018 Goshen Yearling Sale and has turned out to be quite a find. With the bulk of his 2-year-old campaign completed, he currently sits atop the NYSS standings for points (337) and earnings ($155,270) for his age, gender and gait, has seven wins in nine starts with two seconds overall and started it all off with a five-race winning streak. 

His body of work ranks beyond the state border too. Groovy Joe is currently one of the sports best first-year performers sitting third in earnings among all 2-year-old male pacers in North America and has paced the 10th-fastest mile of all freshman pacers after his recent career-best outing of 1:52 at Tioga Downs.

Blake Macintosh trains Groovy Joe and co-owns with the Hutt Racing Stable. Macintosh is the one who picked out the colt and knew all along that he’d be a good one. 

“I liked him when I saw him," Macintosh said. "He was well built, well bred and was my pick of the sale. And he turned out to be everything I thought he would. He broke easily and trained down well and he’s become very smart and professional with his work.”

The colt’s first five races, all of which were wins, came over half mile tracks. Macintosh stated he seemed to thrive there and progressed sharply through those starts.  

“He’s not a big horse and he gets around a half-mile track perfectly," Macintosh said. "You could see him get stronger with each of those wins and he came home faster each week as he went along. The race at Buffalo was what really impressed me; when he flew home in a :57.2 back-half."

Groovy Joe has continued to improve and show his maturity after just winning back to back starts at Tioga in 1:52.4 and 1:52 flat. 

Macintosh is no stranger to success on the NYSS circuit and used the series to educate and develop his millionaire star Courtly Choice (Art Major -- Lady Ashlee Ann) p, 3, 1:47.1m ($1,285,054). 

Courtly Choice won two races in the NYSS at two in 2017 but did not compete in the final. However he came back at three and won all his races in the state series, but he also won the Meadowlands Pace and the Empire Breeders Classic. He still did not race in the NYSS final in 2018 but that was because he was busy winning the Little Brown Jug that week instead. 

Are major stakes in the future for Groovy Joe? His trainer thinks so. 

“Besides racing in the NYSS, we are going to pay him into several Grand Circuit events next year and point him towards the North American Cup," Macintosh said. "I was very excited to win the Jug but I’d love to win the Cup. It’s at my home track and in my own backyard."

The $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions that are comprised of eight $225,000 races will be held at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 14) with a first race post time of 6 o'clock.

The draw for that card is today (Sept. 11) at noon and will be live streamed on the NYSS website as well as both the NYSS and Batavia Downs Facebook pages. Batavia native and New York State Assemblyman Stephen M. Hawley will serve as the honorary drawmaster. 

Peter Kleinhans will be the track's guest host and handicapper for the in-house and simulcast broadcast and Heather Wilder will be in the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle interviewing the winners and all their connections after each stake race. 

There will be two $7,500 guaranteed pools in both the early and late Pick-4 wagers that night and both will be all-stake Pick-4’s (races 3-6 and races 7-10). The pools are part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and free program pages will be available on the USTA’s website and through links on the Batavia Downs Facebook page when they become available. 

Free full card programs will also be available for download from the Daily Racing Form starting Thursday. 

There will be a T-shirt giveaway courtesy of the NYSS on Saturday night as well. Fans attending the races live only need to swipe their Player’s Club card at guest services starting at 4:30 p.m. to receive a ticket to get their shirt after the seventh race.

(Photo courtesy of Paul White.)