Sports

Taking full advantage of a soft second quarter, Just Plain Loco hit the gas in the second half and put away the field in the $15,000 Open I Handicap pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 10).

Dave McNieght III left hard with Just Plain Loco, seated fellow leaver Stratosphere (Drew Monti) in the first turn and then took the field to the quarter in :27.4. With the six-horse field staying single file from there, McNieght grabbed leather and backed off the second panel to :30.1 and that was the game changer. Surfer Beach (Jack Rice) made the first over move and tried to advance towards the leader, but Just Plain Loco had another plan in mind.

He sped to three-quarters in 1:25.3 and put some distance between himself and the field before heading into the last turn. At the top of the stretch Just Plain Loco had a two-length advantage and a lot left in the tank as he paced home in 1:53.1, which was just one-fifth of a second off his season's best effort. 

It was the seventh win of the year for Just Plain Loco ($4.30) who is owned by Paul Lang and Mark Toth. Jennifer Giuliani trains the winner. 

McNeight had two wins during the night. 

The $14,000 Open II Handicap pace was a real slugfest and only the photo finish camera could separate three horses at the wire. 

Drunkonaplane (Jack Rice) left and got the cold shoulder from the pylon-starter Yankee On The Move (Kyle Cummings). The two went at it through quarters of :27.3 and :56.1 before Ideal Artillery (Drew Monti) rolled up first in the breeze and tipped three wide around the fading Drunkonaplane at the five-eighths pole. 

Ideal Artillery then hooked up with Yankee On The Move at three-quarters and they paced in unison around the far turn and into the stretch. It was there that American Trademark (Keith Kash) shook loose and made it three across the track. Under heavy urging, the trio battled all the way to the line where Ideal Artillery got a nose in front to win in 1:53.4. 

Ideal Artillery ($5.70) is owned by Howard and Michael Ouriel and is trained by Don Rothfuss.

Kevin Cummings was the top driver on Saturday with three wins during the proceedings. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Sept. 14) with post time at 6 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.

The Pembroke girls soccer team once again came from behind and won in overtime 4-3, this time beating Eastride.

Head coach April Meier provided the scoring summary:

• Nevaeh Bunch (#3) for Eastridge   Time: minute 11  
• Madison Harisis (#11) for Eastridge Time: minute 34
• Karli Houseknecht (#25 senior captain) for Pembroke Time: minute 35
• Karli Houseknecht (#25 senior captain) for Pembroke Time: minute 45
• Isabel Breeden (#8 senior captain) for Pembroke Time: minute 47
• Haley Sweet (#18 senior) for Pembroke Time: overtime minute 2, Assisted by Molly Chittenden (#11 senior) off a direct kick. 

Notable Defensive plays made by: Ameilia Berghorn, Isabel Breeden and Emma Groff

Richard R. Mays, of Hamburg, passed away on Sept. 7, 2022, after a fierce battle with cancer.

Mr. Mays was a lifelong horseman who competed in western New York for 50 years. He was first licensed in 1973 at the age of 16 and has been competing at tracks across New York state ever since. He experienced great early career driving success with the Open pacing mare May O’neighs (2:01.1, $83,925) and Open pacing gelding Lyron Hanover (1:59.3, $127,242) along with a list of other top horses that he raced at Batavia Downs. Later in his career when he switched to training more than driving, Mr. Mays developed many solid racehorses including the multiple stakes winner Two Twentytwo (1:51.3, $293,729).  

During his career, Mr. Mays drove 1,638 winners that earned $4,222,626. He trained another 321 winners which added $1,585,531 to his purse total. His total career efforts won him 1,959 races that benefited his horse’s connections $5,808,157. Mr. Mays was actively racing right up until the time of his passing.

Mr. Mays was the beloved husband of Karen M. Mays (nee Babcock), loving father of Christopher (Frances) Mays, Jamie Simmons, and Scott Mays, dear grandpa of Tyler, Mayson, Maddie, and Hudson, dearest son of the late Frank and Marion Mays, loving brother of Frank Jr., Robert, Terry, Tom, and Joyce. Mr. Mays is also survived by a large loving family and many dear friends.

The family will be present to receive relatives and friends on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Hamburg Chapel of the John J. Kaczor Funeral Home, 5453 Southwestern Blvd. (corner of Rogers Rd.) where a closing prayer will be said at 7 p.m. Please share condolences at www.kaczorfunerals.com.

Beaten only a nose last week after winning three in a row, Saulsbrook Olympia got back to her winning ways after she parlayed a lot of early movement into a late stretch score in the $15,000 Open I Handicap pace for fillies and mares at Batavia downs on Wednesday night (Sept. 7). 

Dontustopbelievn N (Jim Morrill Jr.) grabbed the front and made fellow leavers Demeter N (Larry Stalbaum) and Dashintothebeach N (Luke Hanners) work hard to take it from her. Demeter N cleared at the :28 quarter and Dashintothebeach N supplanted that one at the top of the stretch, heading to the half. And just as the field had finally achieved single file, Tres Chic Bluechip (Kevin Cummings) pulled first-over from fifth and brought Saulsbrook Olympia (Dave McNeight III) with her to push the issue even further. 

Dashintothebeach N continued to lead up the backstretch until she hit three-quarters where Tres Chic Bluechip drew alongside, but that was just part of the evolving story. Saulsbrook Olympia who had been drafting one out and two back in the breeze was now winging it three-wide halfway into the final turn. By the time they hit the straight, Tres Chic Bluechip had overtaken Dashintothebeach N, but then Saulsbrook Olympia overtook Tres Chic Bluechip and pulled away to 1-½ length victory in 1:53.4. 

It was the fourth win in the last five starts and eighth win overall this year for Saulsbrook Olympia ($9.40) who is owned by William Mcneil and Edward Gorc and trained by Jeniffer Giuliani. 

McNeight III had a driving double on Wednesday. 

There were also two $11,000 upper-level condition races for distaff participants and the winning pair went nearly identical miles. 

In the first So Admirable (Jim Morrill Jr.) started from post one and was never headed. After cutting quarters of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:25.3 while extending her lead to three lengths by the top of the stretch, she closed out the deal in 1:54.2, equalling her lifetime mark. 

So Admirable ($3.50) is owned by Joe Amico Jr. and trained by Shawn McDonough. 

Then in the second, Winning Words (Kevin Cummings) also left from pylon position and went gate to wire in handy fashion. After splits of :28, :57.1 and 1:26, Cummings let Winning Words pace home on top by 1-¾ in 1:54.3.

Winning Words ($4.50) is owned by Steven Goehle and Norene Mego. Angelo Nappo trains the winner. 

Cummings ended the night with three wins while Nappo wrapped it up with two. 

Other horsemen with doubles on Wednesday were driver Dan Yetman and trainer Dave Russo. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 10) with post time at 6 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

The Batavia Boys Varsity Soccer team beat Holley in their first game of the season.

Goals were scored by Dima Havens, with an assist from Owen Halpin, and Matthew Wittmeyer, assisted by Dima Havens.  

"A fantastic performance by the defense led by Ryan Dillon while with Jack Pickard earned a shutout," said Head Coach Graham Halpin.

After a perfect steer from Kyle Cummings, Flying Finn N finished strong to register his season’s best effort in the $15,000 Open I Handicap pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 3). 

Flying Finn N traded leads with Art Scene (Jim Morrill Jr.) off the gate, but landed in front for good just past the :28.2 first quarter. With no imminent aggression near the leader, Flying Finn N hit the half in :57.4 and circled the third turn before he needed to look to his right. It was at the five-eighths pole when Stop Action (Kevin Cummings) entered the picture and drew alongside Flying Finn N to match strides to three-quarters and around the final bend. At the top of the stretch Stop Action stalled, but the tripping Art Scene found the passing lane while Just Plain Loco (Dave McNeight III) swung wide for the drive. But try as they might, neither would get closer than a length to Flying Finn N who was confidently ridden-out by Cummings to claim a one-length victory in a seasonal mark of 1:53.3. 

It was the sixth win of the year for Flying Finn N ($7.90) who is owned by William Emmons and trained by Jim Clouser Jr. 

Cummings and Clouser doubled up after they also won with Jeremes General (1:57, $2.60) three races later. 

In the $13,000 upper-condition co-feature, American Trademark (Keith Kash) got a perfect pocket trip behind Thor De Vie (Jim Morrill Jr.) before shaking loose in the lane to claim a 1-¼ length win in 1:54.2. It was the seventh win of the year for American Trademark ($4.50) who is owned by L’Emmur Stable. Kash also trains the winner. 

Kash joined the double club by adding Breakout Session (1:54.1, $6.50) to his win tally Saturday. 

The Batavia meet's leading driver, Kevin Cummings, was also the leading driver of the night as he scored a hat trick during the proceedings. And with his two wins, Jim Rothfuss joined Clouser as co-leading conditioner for Saturday. 

There is a substantial carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 wager at Batavia Downs and when live racing resumes at the track on Labor Day Monday (Sept. 5), that pool will start with $2,265 in race 11. Labor Day features the annual driver’s bike race and giveaway and $1 hot dogs, draft beer and soda from noon to 5 p.m. at the Homestretch Grill. Post time for the first race is at 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

The New York Sire Stakes visited Batavia Downs for the final time this year on Wednesday (Aug. 31) with a dozen 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings competing for the remaining spots in the finals to be held during the Day of Champions at Tioga Downs on Saturday (Sept. 10). 

In the first $52,500 division, Cecil Hanover (Chapter Seven-Columbia) looked sharp getting his first lifetime and NYSS win.

Cecil Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) left and led the field to the quarter where Met Your Request (Andy Miller) assumed the top position as the clock read :29. Positions remained unchanged to the half when Svanstedt tipped Cecil Hanover and regained control of the race past the five-eighths. At that point Met Your Request and Tillio's Action (Mile Merton) both made breaks and Cecil Hanover was on top by 4-½ lengths going by three-quarters in 1:29. Coming off the far turn the race was over as Cecil Hanover trotted home on his own and won easily by 4-¾ lengths in a lifetime mark of 1:58.2.

Cecil Hanover ($6.80) is owned by S R F Stable, Midnight Sun Partners, Ake Svanstedt and Jorgen Sparredal. Svanstedt also trains the colt that was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.

The second $53,500 leg went to Onion Gum (Chapter Seven-Princessa) who also scored his first NYSS win as well. 

Jax Spratt (Kevin Cummings) took command and went :28.4 and 1:00 to the half as Sevecheetah (Trond Smedshammer) and The Strawboss (Jim Morrill Jr.) followed close behind. The first to pull was Onion Gum (Jordan Stratton) who moved from fourth and was quickly second and only one length off by three-quarters. It was a real race around the last turn and when they hit the straight three horses had a shot. Jax Spratt was still on top but Onion Gum was wearing him down. Sevecheetah then found room at the pylons and was barreling towards the wire. But Onion Gum chewed up the most ground to the line and won by one length in 1:59.4. 

Onion Gum ($4.20) is owned by S R F Stable (who was also part owner of Cecil Hanover), Order By Stable (who bred the colt) and Mario Mazza. Lucas Wallin trains Onion Gum. 

Jordan Stratton continued his driving dominance at Batavia Downs on Wednesday after winning another four races on the card. Beside his victory with the aforementioned Onion Gum, Stratton also scored with How About Murph (1:56.2, $7.40), Dashintothebeach N (1:54.1, $5.00) and the aptly named Grand Slam Hero (2:02.2, $16.00).  Stratton was in town last Friday (Aug. 26) and registered a hat trick during the night, giving him a total of seven wins in his last 15 drives in Genesee County. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 3) with post time at 6 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