Sports

(Photo of Cruising In Style, courtesy of Geri Schwarz.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The sixth of eight stops by the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) at Batavia Downs this year occurs on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 29) when 10 top Empire State-bred 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings will compete in two divisions for the $116,000 of prize money available for distribution.

The NYSS events go as race one and seven. There are also two Excelsior “A” contests that go in race two and five. Post time for the first race is 5 p.m.

The first $58,000 division is a wide open affair with little separating the field. 

Cruising In Style (Muscle Mass-Sos Respect) has yet to win a NYSS race but has raced well in other events this year. He has a win at Yonkers in 1:55.1 (which is his lifetime mark) in June and finished a respectable fourth at the Meadowlands in the $50,000 Drazin Stake on Hambo day  in 1:51.4 after cutting the mile. He is the top money winner in this division and should be able to leave in here, should they so desire. 

Jim Morrill Jr. is up for the second straight start for trainer Andrew Harris and has been made the morning line favorite at 2-1 from post five. 

Clive Bigsby (Muscle Mass-Northern Flare) finally draws inside after eight straight weeks of outside posts, On The Ropes (Chapter Seven-Rs Giggles) looks to improve off three straight third place finishes in NYSS action and Voss Volo (Credit Winner-Silver Springs) has the fastest seasonal mark of these but looks to get back the consistency he displayed earlier this year. 

The second $58,000 split has I’m The Muscle (Muscle Mass-Lady Bling) listed as the 9-5 favorite and he comes in streaking. 

I’m The Muscle started the year racing overnights at Rideau Carlton before transferring to the stable of Rene Allard in mid-July. Since then he has won four straight races including two Excel “A” events before taking a lifetime mark of 1:55.2 at Yonkers in his last outing. However this will be the first time this gelding has faced the top level NYSS competition, but he still figures to be a formidable foe.

Jason Bartlett is in town to drive and will start from post one. 

Don (Credit Winner-Angostura) has earned $116,466 this year on the strength of two NYSS victories but has also finished second in the $133,800 Dexter Cup final and the Empire Breeders Cup consolation. Perlucky (Lucky Chucky-Paper Girl) hasn’t missed a check all year before getting parked out in his last start, fading late and Purpose Blue Chip (Chapter Seven-Munis Blue Chip) has two NYSS wins this year and seems versatile enough to leave or sit.

By: Dan Turner/ announcer Wyoming County International Speedway

It was another exciting night of racing Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Blacktop Bullring. The three weekly classes were battling for a championship, on Double point night.

With an almost full moon, The racing was far from boring and kept all in attendance on the edge of their seat with plenty of racing action and the drama unfolding with the point chase on the line. The question was, who would put it all on the line to gain points or advance themselves and who was going to play conservatively and try to not lose any points to their competition?

And then you throw in the wild card of those that are only here for the trophy and the big check with no regards for points, because they don’t run here every week.

It wasn’t 'til feature time before the near full moon showed itself, and most people know that for some un-scientific reason odd things happen. The 4 cylinder class had a heated point chase going on. Kathie Ricketson in her Rudy red Ricketson Rocket, has been very steady and consistently in the top 5 all season long, other than her one crash early in the season.

Then we add Dave Heimes, a regular at the Spencer Speedway. Dave has had some great runs at WCIS and even picked up a feature win. Just to make things interesting we have to add a third horse to the race and that would be the Bradshaw family racing #05 piloted by Otis Bradshaw. Otis taking over the driving duties of the #05 from his sister in-law that vacated the seat in favor of having another racing baby boy Bradshaw. So Otis in the #05 is only 29 points out of the point chase while Heimes is a mere 11 going into tonight’s Double Point night.

Young gun Jonathan Klamut and Ricketson would be on the front row. Bradshaw would start third and Heimes fourth. As the green fell it was obvious what each of the top three driver’s mission was. Bradshaw threw caution to the wind and wanted, no needed the win for ant shot at the championship.   Heimes was looking to beat Ricketson by two positions to claim the championship. Kathie was on the some mode as she was all season, run hard but run safe and keep the Heimes #8 insight. Bradshaw did or was doing what he needed to do. Get out front and try to run off and hide on the field.

That plan was working til the caution flew and put the red, white and blue #66 of Gustafson to Otis’s inside on the restart. Bradshaw battled for a handful of laps til Gustafson took the number one position. About half way the #8 of Heimes over took Ricketson. Ricketson knew she had to stay with the #8 to win the championship.

As the laps were winding down amothe Spencer invader was hot on Ricketson’s bumper. Corey Copeland was working on the #44 and with only a few circuits left he had his #89 machine door to door with Ricketson. Ricketson ripped a page out of her lady luck book and pinned Copeland behind a slow moving lap car and cruised to a forth place finish, only one spot behind the Heimes #8 and good enough to collect her first track championship.

Super stocks point chase was not as heated as other classes. Meyers in his beautiful #17x machine was fairly comfortable with a 32 point advantage over Eric Hastreiter. Hastreiter thou was under fire by Dan Majchrzak that was only 5 point separation. Majchrzak would start 5th tonight, Hastreiter 6th and point leader Meyers would fire from 9th position. Majchrzak need a win and problems for the Meyers car. Hastreiter also need Meyer to have issues , but only needed to stay ahead of Majchrzak to collect his first track championship.

Joe Horvatits would use his pole position starting spot to jump out front early and look as he may pick up a win after a horrible July where he nearly totaled his #4 Super stock with heavy rear end damage from a big wreck. The first of three yellows flew with Kyle Skoney losing the handle on his #55 machine off turn four. No contact so a quick yellow and back to green. Though this class may not have 20 cars its 10 very well matched field, that makes it incredibly tough to pass. And that’s how being in the right place, right time got Meyers past the #47 of Hastreiter and #14 of Majchrzak. Horvatits was not about to roll over, Joe raced Meyers hard and clean til meyer slipped pasted to the eventual win and championship. Horvatits 2nd and Hastreiter 3rd, Majchrzak 4th.

Feature event 3 on Championship night would see our Bi-weekly division the Super 6’s take to the 1/3 mile Bullring. This was leading up to a track first as Allison Knoepfler was leading points going into tonight program. Both John Parthermer and Spencer invader Andy Cocilova where within 6 points of Knoepfler. Parthermer and Cocilova would start on the front row while Knoepfler would have to start from 3rd. It would be 20 laps to see who was going to claim the win and a championship. For the first 5 or 6 laps the front row stayed together and ran door handle to door handle.

Thus slowing Knoepfler and allowing Brain Hallett in the #36 a team car to Knoepfler to not only catch her but challenge her for the 3rd position. The car on the move was the Wilbert’s you pick it #51 of Barrett Schenk. Rolling from 4th starting spot he used the high line to drive around both Cocilova and Parthermer. Parthermer would fade toward the end and finish 5th as Cocilova would finish 2nd and just beat out Knoepfler for the 2018 track championship.

SST Modifieds, boasting another 20 car field on Championship/ Double point night. As in all the classes before this feature event was another with a lot of open ended 2018 stories that needed a 35 lap main event to settle or finish this seasons drama. Out front in points was a driver that came into the 2018 season with all his Ts crossed and Is dotted. It showed as all season long outside of a wreck his guy was on the front stretch almost every night, that’s consistency.

Ricky Knapp Jr. rolled into the speedway with a healthy 104 point lead over Dan Majchrzak, 107 over Toad Bradshaw, 122 over Steve Fuchs and 135 over Cassie Logsdon.  So a smooth night was all his guy needed to wrap out a championship. 2nd thru 5th these four drivers were hungry and ready to do what it took to gain a spot or more, all secretly wishing Knapp may have mechanical issues on the #11.

The top six positions in the feature were filled with somewhat new comers to the modified ranks on the pole was Tom Alloco, first full year in a modified, flanking was Zack Kosachook also fairly new to a full season in the seat of a modified. Carrie Brown and Geoff Sharkey made up row 2 and Nate Michielsen and Cassie Logsdon in row 3. The point contenders would have to race thru the young guns the cap off their season. Toad Bradshaw would slice and dice his way to the front and take the top spot from pole position starter Tom Alloco on a restart after a first lap incident involving the spinning Carrie Brown and Sharky would get collected by young Steve Sherwood.

A few laps later it would be the #29 of Jay Withey Jr spinning off turn four and coming to a rest head on to the on coming leaders. All would clear and all would restart. This made for a front row restart with both Bradshaw cars up front. Toad to the inside and Bro to the outside. Bro used the highline to power past his brother to get the lead. The man on a mission was the #40 of Alan Bookmiller. Bookmiller was not a regular all season so he was only running for the win and the big check. Bookmiller came out of the 15th starting spot and by half way was challenging for the lead.

After some contact between the rear of Bookmiller car Toad Bradshaw had left front suspension issues and would fall out of contention. Bookmiller would then set his sights on Bro Bradshaw. After a few hard fought laps it was Bookmiller out front and Bradshaw had to deal with a hard charging Knapp. Knapp had just cleared the #0 of Bro Bradshaw as Bradshaw was getting looser as the laps were winding down.

With only 6 laps remaining, Bradshaw spins exiting turn four. This would tighten up the field for a 6 lap dash for cash, the win and most importantly the championship.  Bookmiller took the inside, Knapp had the outside. Majchrzajk and Timmy Lewis made up the second row. Lewis having a great night on his first trip back to the Perry track since his breaking his leg in a dirt bike incident and numerous surgeries. Bookmiller used the short way around the speedway to regain the lead and slide Knapp back to second.

“ We really were not that good in the heat, so we threw the kitchen sink at it and it was almost perfect,” Bookmiller said. “We were really good tonight, just a bit of a push coming off, and just could not hang out there and pass Alan."

"But we will take this second and engoy our track championship though I really wanted to win both, feature and track title,” Knapp said.

Though the points racing is done for 2018, there are still two more events on the schedule.

Sat Sept. 1st  
                  Labor day Mod 100     $1,000 to win   Jim Pierce Mem. Qual. Guarantee starter
                 Super Stocks 50 laps      4Cyl. 25 laps        6Cyl.  20 laps        Vintage 15 laps   
Gates open at 1 p.m. and racing at 4 p.m.    
$18 adults        $5 students (10-16)      Free  9 and under             

Shoot out at the Bullring  Oct. 12 -13  (Sunday Oct .14 rain date)
Check website for details  www.wcisbullring.com                     

4 Cylinders            Heats: O.Bradshaw, J.Pierce Jr.
1)J.Gustafson,  2)O.Bradshaw,  3)D.Heimes,  4)K.Ricketson, 5)C.Copeland,  6)J.Sass,  7)S.Sickles,  8)M.Hurlburt,  9)K.Kocher, 10)J.London,  11)T.Gaddy,  12)J.Klamut, 13)J.Pierce Jr.       

Super 6                  Heats: A.Cocoilova
1)B.Schenk,  2)A.Cocilova,  3)A.Knoepfler,  4)B.Hallett,  5)J.Parthermer,  6)R.Cassidy,  7)K.Chenaille

Super Stocks         Heats: J.Horvatits, C.Hicks Jr
1)Z.Meyers, 2)J.Horvatits,  3)E.Hastreiter,  4)D.Majchrzak,  5)P.Flye,  6)C.Hicks,  7)M.Chenaille, 8)S.Gleed,  9)K.Skoney,  10)F.Kline

SST Modifieds      Heats: T.Alloco, D.Majchrzak, R. Knapp Jr.
1)A.Bookmiller, 2)R.Knapp Jr,  3)D.Majchrzak,  4)T.Lewis,  5)C.Logsdon,  6)D.Pringle,  7)N.Michielsen,  8)B.Bradshaw,  9)B.Kosachook Sr,  10)Z.Kosachook,  11)C.Brown,  12)J.Whithey Jr,  13)T.Bradshaw,  14)D.Frutchey,  15)T.Alloco,  16)G.Sharkey,  17)S.Sherwood,  18)S.Fuchs,  19)T.Weist,  20)M.Virts

Driver Drew Monti with Focus Power.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Drew Monti has become “Mr. Saturday Night” by winning five of the 10 races on the card at Batavia Downs for the second week in a row. Among his plethora of prizewinners this Saturday (Aug. 25) was Focus Power, who made a statement in his return after a six-week layoff in the $10,500 Open Handicap pace.

Buggati (Billy Davis Jr.) was the fastest off the gate and got to the front ahead of the pylon-starting Focus Power by the eighth pole. The pack followed the leader in single file to the quarter in :27 and past the half in :55.4. The top two continued unchallenged from behind to the three-quarters and it was obvious at that point that it would be a two-horse race to the wire from there. 

Davis rolled Buggati into the far turn with Focus Power doubled-up with pace on his back, waiting to get the call from Monti. That came at the apex of the final bend when he popped the deuce, broken headpole and all, and found a new gear immediately. Focus Power switched into glide and blew right past Buggati at the head of the lane and paced away under no urging whatsoever to a wrapped-up win in 1:53.1, which tied his seasonal mark. 

It was the fourth win in only 12 starts this year for Focus Power ($8.10) and it pushed his bank to $35,091 for owner James Caradori. Darrin Monti trains the winner. 

Monti’s other four driving wins came with R M Hawk (1:54.3, $4.90), Littlebitaclass (1:55, $4.80), Linkjack Hanover (1:53.4, $2.60) and Foreign Officer (1:55, $2.40). All four of these horses are trained by JD Perrin who led all conditioners for wins on the card. 

And not to be overlooked; another driver/trainer pair who had a big night Saturday was Shawn Gray and James Clouser Jr. who teamed up to send three winners for pictures. One of those was Tyler ($6.80) who took the garden spot tour before tipping off the last turn to win the $9,000 Open II in 1:55.3, last half in a fast :55.3. Tyler won his seventh race of the year for owner William Emmons. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 26) with post time at 1:15. Sunday is Family Fun Day and features the annual Wiener Dog Races, which begin at the conclusion of the last live harness race (approximately 4 p.m.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

BZ Glide took the most direct path to victory Friday night (Aug. 24) going gate to wire on the point to win the $10,000 Open Handicap trot at Batavia Downs and claim his 40^th lifetime win in the process. 

BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) left three-deep into the first turn grabbing the front by the eighth pole and then hitting the pylons, but that didn’t mean it would be an easy trip from there. Empire Earl N (Shawn Gray) was rolling up the outside and drew alongside the leader at the quarter in a speedy :27.3, but Caprio didn’t let him go. These two battled it out to the half before Empire Earl N started to tail near the five-eighths marker. 

The end of one challenge led to the start of another as Call My Broker (Ray Fisher Jr.) was in gear from the back of the pack and went three-wide around Empire Earl N, and following him on the same path was Icanflylikeanangel (Drew Monti). The three fanned across the track at the head of the stretch with Monti and Fisher employing highly animated driving technics. But Caprio sat chilly, letting his big horse do the work and BZ Glide held of everyone to cross the wire on top by a length in 1:57.1. 

It was the fifth win of the year and third Batavia top class victory for BZ Glide ($5.90) who is owned by the Caprio Stable and trained by Alana Caprio. 

In the co-featured $8,000 Open II trot, Gwally (Ray Fisher Jr.) was parked out the final five-eighths of the mile chasing and eventually collaring the fleet-footed front runner Ruddy Rusty (Jim McNeight Jr.) at the wire by a half-length in 1:58.4. Gwally ($13.60) got his 30^th lifetime win and registered a new seasonal mark doing it for owners Marissa Russo and John Mariano and trainer Dave Russo.

Shawn Mcdonough had a big night, besting all drivers on Friday by winning three races on the card, two of which he also trains. 

Racing resumes on Saturday (Aug. 24) at Batavia Downs with post time at 6 p.m.

Repentance with driver Scott Zeron.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) 3-year-old trotting fillies visited Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 22) to compete for a combined $119,300 in purses that was distributed between two heats. Not everything went the way participating punters thought but one thing was for certain: Scott Zeron came to play. 

In the first $59,100 division, post time favorite Repentance (Chapter Seven-Swan Hot Mama) lived up to her billing. With Fury Road taking early control, driver Scott Zeron took Repentance to the pylons and tracked the proceedings from there until the group hit the half in :59 flat. 

Repentance pulled first up in front of the stands and incrementally advanced towards the leader from there, up the backside and around the last turn when she finally drew even at the head of the stretch. From there, Repentance trotted away from the pack under no urging whatsoever from Zeron to win by two lengths in 1:57.3. 

“I knew she could come first over so I didn’t hesitate to pull where I did. She trotted handily parked and had a lot finishing. She raced well” said Zeron after the race. 

It was the third win of the year for Repentance ($4.10) pushing her earnings to $77,559 for owner Diamond Creek Racing. Newly elected Hall of Fame member Linda Toscano trains the winner.

White Cheetah with driver Jim Morrill Jr.

The second division carried a purse of $60,200 and some of the bettors may have made as much through the windows as some of the check-getters in the race as White Cheetah (Muscle Mass-Wheely Quick) blew up the tote board at 36-1. 

Heavy post time favorite Lima Novelty (Scott Zeron) made a break just as the gate opened, leaving Natalie Hanover (Jim Marohn Jr.) loose on the lead and White Cheetah (Jim Morrill Jr.) tucked in second behind for the ride. Then at the eighth pole, the second betting choice Tribute To Seven (Drew Monti) who was third made a break as well, leaving Natalie Hanover and White Cheetah sitting one-two, a gapped five-lengths on the field. 

Nothing much changed from the quarter to the top of the stretch but then it happened quickly. Morrill pulled White Cheetah and in a couple strides she went right by Natalie Hanover ending up a one-length wrapped-up winner in 1:59.1. 

“When I saw the break, I went with Plan “A” all the way; I dropped in second and took my best shot. I drove her once before and knew she could trot and when I pulled her I had a lot of horse” Morrill said. 

White Cheetah ($74) got her third win of the year but it was first NYSS victory. The winner’s share pushed her bankroll for 2018 to $63,165 for owners Paul Kelley Racing Stable, Joe Sbrocco and Stable 45. Paul Kelley conditions the winner. 

White Cheetah’s large win mutuel prompted a $498 Exacta, $7,681 Trifecta and $12,210 Super. 

Scott Zeron had a huge outing at Batavia, grabbing five races on the card. Besides winning with Repentance, he also won all three divisions of the $15,000 Excelsior “A” series with A Gift For You (Credit Winner-Soprano Hanover) who is owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by George Ducharme, Sevenbuyeleven (Chapter Seven-Muscleini) who is also owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Linda Toscano and Ithinkthatsmine (RC Royalty-Super Starlet) who is owned by Ray Campbell Jr. and trained by George Ducharme.

Zeron’s fifth win was in Excelsior “B” action with Good Luck Ginny (Lucky Chucky-Classical Ginny) who is owned by Phillip Hale and David Dewhurst, who also trains the winner. Good Luck Ginny finished in a dead-heat with Financial Impact (Muscle Mass-Steuben Miss) who was driven by Drew Monti for owner Marie Houghtaling and trainer Ron Houghtaling.

Photo of Southern Palms with driver Kevin Cummings.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Two longtime Batavia Downs regulars put up big numbers on Friday night (Aug. 17) in front of a packed apron and sold out clubhouse on a beautiful late summer evening in Genesee County. 

First, perennial driving leader Kevin Cummings won half the card, scoring five wins on the night, pulling away from his fellow drivers for the dash lead at the meet. Cummings won with Keystone Keen (1:56.4, $4.10), Striker Ace (1:57.2, $5.40), Gold Star Sonata (1:57.1, $4), Southern Palms (1:57, $21.20) and Northern Matador (1:59, $3). 

Cummings is firmly entrenched as the current driving leader to this point with 27 wins; seven ahead of his nearest competitor. He is chasing his fifth title at the Downs and is off to a flying start. 

Then legendary western New York horseman Gerry Sarama conditioned the winners of both featured trots, winning each with ease and returning double-digit payouts to boot. 

In the $10,000 Open Handicap, Southern Palms (Kevin Cummings) got off to a slow start fourth as Ruddy Rusty (Jim McNeight Jr.) was rolling down the road with a four-length lead in a fast :56.4 half. Southern Palms took advantage of the fraction and became second over at three-quarters behind Call My Broker (Ray Fisher Jr.) who was rushing the leader. At the head of the stretch the three were even across the track but Southern Palms trotted home the best and won by two lengths in 1:57, which was a new seasonal mark. 

The very next race in the $8,000 Open II, Sarama decided to send Theresnoway (Ray Fisher Jr.) right down the road and he never looked back. After getting to the half in :58.2, Fisher let out the lines and Theresnoway opened up five by three-quarters and eight by the top of the stretch and from there he cruised to the wire much the best by eight in 1:57.1, which was also a new seasonal mark. 

Southern Palms ($21.20) and Theresnoway ($11.40) are both owned by Mike Torcello.

Bedsides the big nights had by Cummings and Sarama, driver Drew Monti and trainer John Mungillo each added two wins to their meet totals. 

The annual Race to Defeat Breast Cancer fundraiser and silent auction that was held by the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester (BCCR) and sponsored by Batavia Downs was a rousing success as donations collected amounted to over $12,000 and beat last year’s total.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Aug. 18) with post time set at 6 o'clock.