Sports

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Press release:

GCC Athletics was recently recognized for its success by finishing third in the Daktronics National Association of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Cup standings-the highest in school history. The Daktronics Cup is an award given annually by the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) to the junior and community colleges in the United States with the most success in collegiate athletics. Points for the Daktronics Cup are based on the order of finish in various championships sponsored by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and state associations.

Three awards are given annually: one to the most successful school in the NJCAA scholarship division, one to the most successful school in the NJCAA non-scholarship division and one to the most successful school in a state association. Colleges in each division are allowed to use their top five finishes per gender at their highest level of competition to earn points for the Daktronics Cup. The champions of each competition score 20 points, second place scores 19, third place 18, etc. This is the fourth year that Daktronics has sponsored this award in conjunction with the NATYCAA. For the 2021-2022 season, Genesee Community College was awarded third place in the non-scholarship division, tallying 111 points. Genesee finished behind second-place College of DuPage who scored 131 points and Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester County won the NJCAA Non-Scholarship Division with 135.5 points.

GCC's athletic accomplishments for 2021-22 was highlighted by Men's Basketball taking second place at the NJCAA National Championship Tournament. Men's Soccer finished first in the conference, first in the region and ranked as high as second nationally. Women's soccer finished second in the conference, second in the region and ranked as high as fourth nationally. Women's Swimming and Diving finished as Region III & Northeast District champions, taking sixth overall at nationals, and second in the non-scholarship division. Men's Swimming and Diving finished as Region III and Northeast District runners-up and took eighth overall at nationals, second in the non-scholarship division. Men's lacrosse finished as Region III champions and ranked as high as fourth nationally. Women's Lacrosse finished second in the conference, second in the region and ranked as high as fourth in the nation. Women's Basketball featured 3 All-Region athletes and Women's Volleyball featured 2 All-Conference athletes.

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.

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 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

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

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

Two Open paces totalling $27,500 in purses highlighted the card at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Aug. 13) and both races provided exciting finishes.

In the $14,000 Open II Handicap, My Money Honey (Kyle Cummings) got away third behind Art Scene (Jim Morrill Jr.) and both sat the trip behind Next Big Thing (Keith Kash Jr.) while he set fractions of :28.2, :58 and 1:25.4 to three-quarters while amassing a comfortable two length lead heading into the final bend. In that turn, Flying Finn N (Shawn McDonough) and Stranger Things (Kevin Cummings) were moving on the outside and that left My Money Honey locked in fifth on the pegs at the top of the stretch. But as the passing lane opened up at the top of the stretch, Art Scene ducked into it and left just enough room for My Money Honey to get between him and the pylons and My Money Honey had the best foot to the line and won by a neck in 1:54.4.

The second win in a row and sixth of the year by My Money Honey ($19.60) pushed his 2022 earnings to $60,734 for the benefit of his owner Kyle Cummings. Tammy Cummings trains the winner.

Then in the $13,500 Open II Handicap, Surfer Beach (Jim Morrill Jr.) left from eighth and dropped in fourth while Daylight Rush (Dave McNeight III) went to the front and took the field to the half in :56.4. It was there that Surfer Beach was first out and rolling up towards the leader in turn three and he continued to cut into the lead heading to the three-quarter pole. By the time they came out of the far turn, Surfer Beach and Daylight Rush were next to each other and as both drivers rocked and knocked down the stretch, Surfer Beach got the advantage and held off a late charging Blue Spanx (Keith Kash Jr.) to win by a neck in 1:53.4. 

It was the third win of the year for Surfer Beach ($4.80) who is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags Stable and Team Rice Racing. Maria Rice was the winning trainer. 

Several horsemen had big performances on Saturday. Driver Kevin Cummings had a natural hat trick in races two through four while Kyle Cummings also had a hat trick that included the longest paying horse of the night, Lanas Desire ($106.50). That horse was trained by Jim Clouser Jr. who had two conditioning wins and he was joined by Dave Russo and Darrin Monti.

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Sunday (Aug. 14) there will be a $1,519 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 wager in race 11. Post time for the first race is 1:15 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 J. Lowery

A total of $104,000 was up for grabs for the 10 participating 2-year-old pacing fillies who were on hand for the New York Sire Stakes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening (Aug. 10).

The $ 52,500-second division was scratched down to a field of five and Vivians Dream (American Ideal-Sports Chic) put on quite a show. 

Vivians Dream (Jordan Stratton) left sharply and grabbed the lead as soon as the gate closed. With Hunting Season (Mark Macdonald) and Rock My Socks (Jason Bartlett) following loosely in second and third, Stratton snugged up Vivians Dream and got away with a very pedestrian :59 half and that strategy ended up paying big dividends.

When the race made its way onto the second circuit, the pace picked up substantially and Vivians Dream was starting to separate from the field. She got to three-quarters in 1:26.4, rounded the last turn and opened up by 3-1/4 lengths at the top of the stretch. From there she blazed home in :27.1 to win easily in 1:54.

It was the fifth win in only six lifetime starts for Vivians Dream ($2.50) and owner Forrest Bartlett. Cory Mumford trains the winner. Vivians Dream was bred at Winbak Farm. 

Jordan Stratton ended the night with three driving wins. 

In the first $51,500 division, Dame (Dude's The Man-Seat By The Window) made every station a winning one en route to a new lifetime mark. 

Luke Hanners held position with Dame from post one and became the commander of fractions after the post time favorite Doing Marvelous (Jordan Stratton) made a break trying for the front. Dame set intervals of :28, :57.4 and 1:27 with no opposition from the single file field in tow. At the top of the lane Dame was under a line drive and cruised home to a 2-¼ length win in a career-best time of 1:55.2. 

Dame ($7.40) was bred and is owned by Stephen Richard and is trained by Kelly Hastings. 

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 13) there will be a $1,405 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 wager in race 13. Post time for the first race is 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.

Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery