Sports

Photo of Black Is Back with driver Dave McNeight III.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

It was a simple plan for Black Is Back. Take the lead, steal the half and cruise home for the win. And that's exactly what he did in the $12,500 Open I Handicap pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 26). 

Black Is Back (Dave McNeight III) left unchallenged and set early fractions of :27.3 and :57 flat to the half. Down On My Luck (Drew Monti) was in the breeze first-over at that point and continued to gain ground on the leader up the backstretch and to the three-quarters. 

As they headed around the far turn and into the stretch Down On My Luck was pacing hard and trying to make up the 1-½ length deficit, but Black Is Back was the better horse this night and hung on for the win by one-length in 1:53.4. 

It was the 10th win of the year for Black Is Back ($3.10) who has now earned $75,050 for owners Curtis Edholm and Mihajlo Zdjelar Sr.; Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. does the training.

The $11,000 Open II Handicap pace saw I’m So Handsome (Denny Bucceri) leave from post one, slow the half to :58.2 and then come home in back to back :28.2 quarters to hold off a fast closing Sir Pugsley (Drew Monti) and win by a length in 1:55.

I’m So Handsome ($10.80) scored his sixth win of the year for owner Mike Torcello and trainer Gerry Sarama. 

The $10,000 Open III pace turned an unexpectedly fast mile when Charmbo Orbit (Denny Bucceri) drafted third for a half before pulling first-over heading to the three-quarters to run down the leading Thisjetsabookin (Dave McNeight III) and hold off a late rush from Brunello N (Drew Monti) in the stretch to win by a neck in 1:53.4.

It was a new seasonal mark for Charmbo Orbit ($21.20) who is owned by Keith Pinkowski and trained by Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. 

Those back to back wins for Denny Bucceri were two of the three he won on the card, giving him a hat trick for the evening. Drew Monti also won three races on Saturday night. 

With no Pick-5 winner on Saturday, there is a $1,381 carryover and a $5,000 guaranteed pool will be offered on the Pick-5 wager on Wednesday (Oct. 30) when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon at 5 p.m.

The guaranteed pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering program and as such, there will be free program pages for races one through five available on the USTA website starting this morning (Oct. 27).

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

After winning in impressive style from post one in the track’s feature trot last week, Joey Pro moved out to post eight through assignment this week and won again in the $12,500 Open I Handicap trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Oct. 25). 

Joey Pro (Renaldo Morales III) left from the outside gate and finally took the top from CR Blazin Beauty (John Cummings Jr.) by the quarter in :28.1. But right after he cleared, CR Blazin Beauty came right back from second on the give and go to take command once again. The group then went with positions unchanged to the half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:27.

Rounding the last turn CR Blazin Beauty was still trotting strong on the point but Morales tipped Joey Pro out and started rolling down the center of the track. Joey Pro was in full flight and gaining ground with every stride and got the advantage under the wire where he won by ½ length in 1:57.2. 

It was the 13th win of the year for Joey Pro ($15.40) who has now earned $72,580 this year for owner Mark Wamp. John Hallett trains the winner.

In the $11,000 Open II Handicap trot Rockefeller Lindy (Jim Morrill Jr.) drafted along third for most of the mile until finding his way clear in the stretch and out-sprinting the leading Arnold (Dave McNeight III) to the wire to win by three lengths in 1:58. 

It was the first Batavia Downs win for Rockefeller Lindy ($3.10) who is owned by the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. James Clouser Jr. is the conditioner.

Several horsemen had multiple win nights on Friday. Drivers included Billy Davis Jr. with three and Jim Morrill Jr., Dave McNeight III and Mike Baumeister with two apiece. Training leaders were Per Henriksen, Ron Baumeister and Rock C. Vinci who all doubled up. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Oct. 26) at 6 o'clock.

Photo of HP Sissy with driver Drew Monti.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

She went on tour for two weeks an won an upper class conditioned race at Yonkers Raceway in the process, but HP Sissy proved that there is no place like home and after winning her now third straight $12,500 fillies and mares Open I Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Oct. 23). 

HP Sissy (Drew Monti) and Gia’s Surreal (Jim Morrill Jr.) played give and take with the lead to the :27.4 quarter before “Sissy” came back out to reclaim the lead again past that station and this time, it was for good. With the short but select field of five followers in single-file pursuit, HP Sissy cruised through fractions of :57.4 and 1:26.3 with the greatest of ease.

Coming off the far turn, Gia’s Surreal pulled the pocket she occupied throughout the mile and took her best shot at the leader. But with no more than a reminder from Monti, HP Sissy paced strong through the lane and won by a measured length in 1:55.4. 

Having the year of her life, HP Sissy ($4.10) registered her 13^th win of the year and boosted her earnings to $109,493 for owner Finocchario’s Dream Stable and trainer Mike Ohol. 

The $11,000 fillies and mares Open II Handicap pace saw Who’s Got The Move (Dave McNeight III) turn a garden-spot trip behind Machin Marley (Billy Davis Jr.) into a neck victory at the wire over her cover in a time of 1:56.4. Although she set a lifetime mark last week and drew post one here, Who’s Got The Move returned a surprising $19.80 for the win. The 5-year-old Shadyshark Hanover mare is owned by Richard and Lynn Fisher, who also trains the winner. 

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. Was red hot on Wednesday, getting the Grand Slam on the card. Morrill won with Magdalana Royalty (2:02.1, $5.40), Jus Chillin It (2:00.1, $21), Lyra (1:57.3, $5) and Southfield Spirit (2:00.4, $10). 

Morrill, who is in second place in the dash win category behind Billy Davis Jr., closed the gap with those four wins and is now only 14 behind with 27 nights of racing left. Morrill has a Universal Driver Rating (UDR) of .404 for the meet and has already broken the track record for earnings by a driver in a single season at Batavia Downs with over $880,000 banked this meet. 

There was no winner of the Pick-5 on Wednesday and as a result, there is a $916 carryover and a guaranteed $3,000 pool for the Pick-5 on Friday (Oct. 25) when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs. Post time on Friday is 6 p.m.

Information provided by Ryan Paddock.

Pavilion/York beat North Rose Wolcott 3 sets to 1 in boys volleyball on Saturday.  The team then lost to Midlakes three sets to zero.

Pavilion/York is now 10-6 on the season.

Cameron Milligan sets single match & single-season records for the program against NRW with his 43 kills tallying 374 for the season. Both records were previously held by his cousin Luke Milligan. Luke continues to hold the career kills record with 1,313. Cameron added 18 kills against Midlakes to set his career mark at 796 and counting.

Stats vs. NRW:

• Cameron 43 kills 23 digs 6 blocks 
• Cole Tillotson 45 assists 4 kills 
• Dan Nichols 9 digs 6 aces 

Vs Midlakes 

• Cameron Milligan 18 kills 4 blocks 
• Dan Nichols 10 digs 
• Charlie Urbanczyk 5 digs 

Photo of Down On My Luck in front, driven by Drew Monti.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Drew Monti was on top of his game Saturday night (Oct. 19) at Batavia Downs, winning five races on the card including the weekly pacing feature with Down On My Luck who moved up to the top class $12,500 Open I Handicap after taming the Open II pacers in handy fashion last week.

Down On My Luck took back to fifth while Tullow N (John Cummings Jr.) and Mr. Euroman (Billy Davis Jr.) fought hard for the lead, parked two-wide to the quarter in :27.2 and the half in :56.1. Monti pulled there and Down On My Luck was now second-over in the breeze following Mr. Euroman, who had been out the entire mile. 

Tullow N was still rolling on the point and hit three-quarters in 1:24.3 and it was there Down On My Luck tipped three-wide around the tiring Mr. Euroman. Black Is Back (Dave McNeight III) was also three-deep in the flow and was now in play for the stretch run. When the race came off the turn, Down On My Luck took the lead by a length but Black Is Back was closing fast behind him. Positions remained unchanged to the wire and Down On My Luck won by a quarter-length in 1:53.4. 

It was the fifth win in six Batavia Downs starts this meet for Down On My Luck ($5.50) who is owned by Robert Woodburn and is trained by Patrick Shepherd.  

Monti completed his five win night with Cultural Paradise (1:54.4, $11), Howmac Dancer (1:55.1, $4.20), Brunello N (1:55, $7.30) and Cheyenne Louie (1:57.2, $5.30). 

Fool Me Once (Renaldo Morales III) won the $11,000 Open II pace after leaving from post eight to lead at every station en route to a 1:55.2 victory. It was the fifth win of the year for the overlooked Fool Me Once ($26.80) who is owned by Triple S Equine and trained by Patrick Shepherd. 

Billy Davis Jr. and Renaldo Morales III each had driving triples on Saturday while trainers Patrick Shepherd, JD Perrin and Maria Rice all had two victories each. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 23) at 5 p.m.

(Photo of Joey Pro with driver John Cummings Jr.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

After stringing three straight wins at the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono prior to finishing sixth chasing a 1:52.3 mile last week, Joey Pro ventured north to Batavia Downs and ran away with the $12,500 Open I Handicap trot on Friday night (Oct. 18). 

BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) rushed off the gate for the lead and looked like he would go unchallenged for a while. But Joey Pro (John Cummings Jr.) who was now third, was quickly pulled and brushed to the front in a :28 first quarter and then opened up a gapped 2-½ length lead rounding the second bend. The chasing field stayed in single file trying to keep up with Joey Pro who went to the half in :56.3 and three-quarters in 1:25.3.

Joey Pro was 3-½ lengths on top heading into the last turn and the only horse with a shot was Wheels A Turning (Denny Bucceri) who had distinguished himself from the trailing pack and continued his chase down the lane. But the best he would do this night was second as Joey Pro was the best in here and won by 2-¼ lengths in 1:56.1.

It was the 12th win of the year for Joey Pro ($4.80) who has now banked $66,330 for owner Mark Wamp. John Hallett trains the winner. 

In the $11,000 Open II trot, Keystone Apache (Billy Davis Jr.) dropped down for the top class and toured the facility on the point from gate to wire and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.2. Keystone Apache ($12.40) snared his ninth win of the season for owner Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Adelphi Bloodstock. Maria Rice trains the winner.

John Cumming Jr. and BIlly Davis Jr. both had driving triples on Friday. Trainer Dave Russo led all conditioners with two victories. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Oct. 19) at 6 o'clock.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Three-year-old Gia’s Surreal had been a solid campaigner all year on the New York Sire Stake circuit, culminating that series with a second-place finish in the Excelsior “A” final in September. Since that start the filly has won three straight races in overnights against aged mares and on Monday (Oct. 14) knocked off the track's top class, the $12,000 Open Handicap pace for fillies and mares at Batavia Downs.

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. left fast with Gia’s Surreal and led the ladies to the quarter in :27.4 and the half in :57.2. As the race proceeded onto the second circuit, Little Joke (Billy Davis Jr.) and Kaitlyn Rae (Mike Caprio) moved up on the rim to apply some pressure and pushed a fast :28.2 split to the three-quarters.

But Gia’s Surreal, who had maintained a 1-1/4 length lead the entire race, stayed stout and kept to her business which was turning back all challengers and pacing home strong to win in 1:55.  

Gia’s Surreal ($3.10) scored her ninth win in 19 starts this year and pushed her stake-enhanced earnings to $83,869 for owners Jim Graham, Edward Peron, Lee Winters and Thomas Mariano. Jim Graham trains the filly. 

Gia’s Surreal was one of three wins for Jim Morrill Jr. on Monday. Billy Davis Jr. also got the driving hat trick on the card. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 18) at 6 p.m. There is no racing this Wednesday (Oct. 16) due to today’s special matinee card.

Mr. Euroman had a two-month vacation this summer before the start of the Batavia Downs meet and since returning to action in late August, has won four out of his eight starts in Genesee County. The most recent win came on Saturday night (Oct. 12) in the $12,500 Open Handicap pace at the Downs. 

Leaving from post one, Mr. Euroman (Billy Davis Jr.) watched as Sir Pugsley (Drew Monti) fired off the gate and took command of the race heading around the first turn. With the field in single file, Sir Pugsley went down to the half in :57 before stepping up the pace to the three-quarters with a :27.3 split. Mr. Euroman was the beneficiary of cover to this point of the race and continued to trip-out to the top of the stretch. Davis pulled the pocket at the head of the lane with Mr. Euroman and out-dueled Sir Pugsley to the wire to win by one-half length in 1:53.2.

It was the seventh win of the year for Mr. Euroman ($16.00) who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags, Jack Rice and Adelphi Bloodstock and is trained by Maria Rice.

There were a pair of $11,000 Open II races on the card that both provided some stellar performances. 

(Photo above: Down On My Luck with driver Drew Monti in the lead.)

The first split saw Down On My Luck (Drew Monti) get away third before pulling first-over at the three-eighths, clear the leading Barry Hanover (Dave McNeight III) by the three-quarters and then pull away to an easy 2-¼ length win in 1:53.3. Down On My Luck ($3.10) is having a career year for owner Robert Woodburn, now with eight wins and $47,867 in earnings. Patrick Shepherd trains the winner.

(Above photo: What’s Goin On with John Cummings Jr. out in front.)

In the second division, What’s Goin On (John Cummings Jr.) sat second behind the pace-setting Rise Up Now (Shawn McDonough) from the start until the top of the stretch where he found room on the pylons and shot through like a rocket to out-pace four other fast finishers and win by one-half length in 1:54.4. What’s Going On ($8.70) now also has eight wins this year and $65,821 earned for owners Marissa and Joe Russo. David Russo does the conditioning. 

Drew Monti scored a driving triple to lead all drivers on Saturday while John Cumming Jr. and Renaldo Morales III scored two wins apiece. Trainer Patrick Shepherd also sent three horses to the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle while James Clouser Jr. and Joe Skowyra each watched two of their stable win during the night 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs with the final matinee card of the year on Monday (Oct. 14) with the annual Columbus Day special. Post time for the first race is 1:15 p.m.