It was another cold and windy evening in Genesee County with snow bands that increased in intensity as the card rolled on. But the real storm on Thursday (Jan. 23) afternoon at Batavia Downs came from drivers Brett Beckwith and Kevin Cummings, who each won four races during the program.
Beckwith’s big win came in the co-featured $13,000 Open Handicap trot that went to Up Helly Aa, who led at every station before pulling away to a gapped-length victory.
After several horses left, Johnny Boy (Kevin Cummings) took the lead before Beckwith and Up Helly Aa roared forward in the breeze to claim the top at the :28.2 quarter. After crossing over, Up Helly Aa settled in and marched off back-to-back :29.4 quarters before heading into the final bend on top by 2-¾ lengths. When he entered the stretch, Up Helly Aa had no imminent threats from behind and just kept on going to eventually win by 3-¼ lengths in 1:58.4.
Up Helly Aa ($11.40) is owned by Ian Fromowitz and trained by Jaymes Mcassey.
Beckwith also won with Venier Hanover (1:58.4, $2.90), Admiral Hanover (1:58.1, $4.50) and Six Degrees (1:57.3, $3.40).
Kevin Cummings' four wins came with Silvershoe Halie (2:00.4, $15.20) along with Hp Running Mass (2:01.4, $34.20), Famous Dan (2:00, $4.60) and Yo AJ (1:59.3, $8.40), all of whom were trained by Sam Smith, who topped all conditioners for wins during the proceedings.
Both Beckwith and Cummings drove a total of 13 races each and posted identical numbers of four wins, three seconds and two thirds, giving each one of them a lofty UDR of .487 when the day was done.
The other feature race was the $13,000 Open Handicap pace, where Primo Uomo had absolutely no competition whatsoever as he won his second straight top-class pace at the Downs with a very convincing gate-to-wire romp.
Joe Chindano Jr. rocketed off the gate and to the front with Primo Uomo, who opened up a 2-¾ length gap as he cruised past the quarter in hasty :27.3. Chindano then downshifted quarter two, but got right back to business on the second circuit. Primo Uomo stretched out to a three length lead at three-quarters in 1:26.1, rounded the last turn and then bolted away to a nine-length victory in 1:54.4, setting a new seasonal mark.
Primo Uomo ($2.70) is owned by Chris and Dale Lawton and trained by David Dewhurst.
Chindano added wins with Thinking Of Slim (2:01, $11.20) and Mauries Bonus A (1:58.3, $4.50) to grab a hat trick of his own.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Jan. 27) at 3:00 p.m. and there will be a carryover of $1,012 in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 14th race.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
