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Muckdogs fall 10-3, remain in first place by half-game

By Billie Owens

Submitted photos and press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs dropped a game to the Williamsport Crosscutters, 10-3 to start a three-game home stand but retained the half-game lead of first place as West Virginia lost on Sunday as well.

Batavia (37-31) had eight hits but Williamsport was powered by shortstop Bryson Stott, the first round draft pick this year of the Philadelphia Phillies, who went 3-for-5.

Batavia's offense was led by Milton Smith II who had two hits while Troy Johnston had a RBI double and scored, Nic Ready, Sean Reynolds, Harrison Dinicola and Andrew Turner had hits.

Eli Villalobos struck out four in three innings while Joey Steele struck out three in two innings.

The Muckdogs are home tonight and the park will be "barking" for the 7:05 for Pups in the Park. It's the "dog days of summer" so there will be $1 and $2 food and drink specials.

The first 1,000 fans will receive a free tumbler from Genesee Orthopaedics and UMMC.

Tuesday is a special 11 a.m. start as it is Senior Day and all general admission tickets are $2 and it's a bonus Pups in the Park Day.

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Photos: There were 90 members of the Western New York Muckdogs at the game Sunday -- Kids Day. They ran out with the players for the National Anthem (top photo) and talked to players like Troy Johnston (27) (bottom photo).

Photos: Batavia Downs Family Fun Day and Wiener Dog Races

By James Burns

Batavia Downs had its annual “Family Fun Day” this afternoon, with the highlight being the Wiener Dog races.

Eighty dogs had entered for 10 heats with one final race, that was again this year, a photo finish.

Dallas owned by Kristy Hody (Dallas is pictured below) came from behind and won the Dachshund Dash by a nose in a near three-way tie. 

Dallas is a first-time winner of the race. He had a little light trainng in the days preceding the event and is seen here with his favorite treat, a carrot.

Apparently Dallas’s athletic training regiment will not allow for him to have a higher calorie snack even after a victory. 

There was also face painting, games, magic, and pony rides for the kids during the normal Sunday harness racing meet. 

Builder and longtime standardbred owner Joseph A. Amico Sr. 96 dies at 96

By Billie Owens

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Joseph A. Amico Sr. Passed away on Thursday (Aug. 22) surrounded by his family.

Mr. Amico had a career as a builder, but he was also heavily involved in harness racing in western New York for over 55 years. He first got involved through ownership of a horse named Butch Mac in 1960 and had been an active owner in the sport until 2016. He owned a total of 60 horses during that time including High C Byrd, Oxford Flyer, Eyredale, Fays Rene, Better Bomb, Affable Poplar N, Prince Lee Norm, Tulip T Collins and Best Ears.

Mr. Amico is predeceased by his wife, Norma (Agricoltoso) Amico; brother, Jim (Fran) Amico; sister, Mary (Anthony) Gianni; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Raymond (Carmella) Agricoltoso, Alfred (Mary) Agricoltoso; Ida (Tony) Spaziano, Martha (Vincent) Pettrone, Jane (Santo) Pellitteri, Catherine (Ray) Magliozzi, Celia (John) Izzo, Virginia (Louie) Trombetta.

Mr. Amico is survived by his children, Joseph A. Amico Jr., Angela (Richard) Wolf; grandchildren, Deana (Stephen) Percassi, Joseph E. (Alison) Amico, Heather (James) Rodriguez, Amber (David) Santos, Alexa Wolf, Ricky Wolf; great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Dylan, Stephen, Carly and Collin; many nieces, nephews and friends.

There will be no prior calling. On Tuesday (Aug. 27) all are invited to attend his Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Brigid Church, 18 Gibson St., Bergen, NY. Interment is private. 

Those that wish to do so, donations in his memory may be directed to Hospice of Orleans, 14080 Route 31 West, P.O. Box 489, Albion, NY 14411. The family would like to thank all of Mr. Amico’s caregivers and neighbors for their love and support.

Muckdogs win series with State College, but fall in final game, 1-0

By Billie Owens

Above and below: Muckdogs catcher Dustin Skelton was an offensive bright spot for Batavia Saturday night going 2-for-3.

Submitted photos and press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs had outstanding pitching Saturday night but could not get a run across in a 1-0 loss to State College (Pa.).

Batavia (37-30) keeps the half-game lead in first place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division as West Virginia (36-30) lost to Auburn.

Batavia is home today at 5:05 p.m. as it is Kids Day at the park.

Easton Lucas had a strong start for Batavia, throwing a no-hitter with one strikeout through 3.2 innings allowing two walks and no runs.

Bryan Hoeing took the hard-luck loss, giving up one run in 3.1 innings with two strikeouts and no walks. Josh Simpson tossed two shutout no-hit innings.

The offensive bright spot for Batavia was catcher Dustin Skelton who had two hits. Skelton was an 18th-round draft pick of the Miami Marlins out of Mississippi State.

Harrison Dinicola and Julian Infante had hits.

Batavia is also home on Monday at 7:05 p.m. and Tuesday is a special 11:05 a.m. start.

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Gimpanzee impressive in NYSS win at Batavia Downs

By Billie Owens

Photo: Gimpanzee with driver Brian Sears.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Gimpanzee (Chapter Seven-Steamy Windows) was everything the large live crowd that gathered on the Batavia Downs apron came out to see as he cruised to an easy win in his division of the $118,500 New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings at the Downs tonight (Aug. 24).

Gimpanzee (Brian Sears) got away third initially while Whimzical Chapter (Dan Daley) hustled to the front. But just past the eighth pole Sears pulled him and rushed to the front to claim the lead by the quarter in a pedestrian :29.2. Now firmly in control, the 1-9 shot led six 99-1 shots to the half in :58.1 and the three-quarters in 1:27.1.

Gimpanzee seemed to switch gears on his own heading into the final turn as Sears sat still as a statue. Motoring around that bend he extended his lead with every lengthening stride and by the time he entered the stretch, he was gone. Chimpanzee opened up five and was in full flight down the lane and hit the wire all alone in 1:55.1.

“He is so easy to drive, from day one. Marcus (Melander) has done such a great job with him,” Sears said. “The horse has got a lot of talent and he makes my job easy because he knows what we’re trying to accomplish out there and he doesn’t fight me. He is just a total professional in every way.”

It was the 13th lifetime win in only 15 lifetime starts for Chimpanzee ($2.10) who moves closer to the million dollar mark, now with earnings of $895,996 on his card. The Dan Patch Award winning trotter is owned by Courant Inc. and S R F Stable. Marcus Melander is the trainer.

(Above photo, Livinonthedash with driver Marcus Miller.)

In the other $59,800 NYSS split, Livinonthedash (Muscle Mass-Sunshine Glide) won handily after rationing out the speed in the middle panels. Livinonthedash (Marcus Miller) out-muscled Winnerup (Brian Sears) for the lead at the quarter in :28 and then led the group for the remainder of the race.

Miller quickly put the breaks on from there and went the next two quarters in :30.3 and :30.2, getting to the three-quarters in 1:29. There, Lucky Weekend (Jim Morrill Jr.) had caught the leader and was trotting alongside around the final turn. But that would be as close as he would get as Miller gave Livinonthedash his head and he trotted away without urging to win by 1-¼ lengths in 1:58.

“I haven’t had him on the front end in quite a while and when I got him there we were able to go a nice slow middle half so it worked out well,” said Miller.

It was the third win in a row, fifth out of his last six and ninth of the year for Livinonthedash ($2.60) who has now amassed $201,272 for his owners the Ervin Miller Stable, David Prushnok and Tangle Massey. Erv Miller is the trainer. Both Gimpanzee and Livinonthedash will compete in the $500,000 Yonkers Trot next Saturday (Aug. 31) and then will return to Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 14) for the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions.

Two divisions of the $15,000 Excel “A” series were also contested on Saturday, producing the following results.

Lights Come On (Chapter Seven-Starlit Eyes)

Driver -- Billy Davis Jr.

Owner -- Acl Stuteri Ab, Ted Gewertz and Anette Lorentzen

Trainer -- Anette Lorentzen

Breeder -- Winbak Farm

Time -- 1:57.1

Mutuel -- $3.10

JNR Express (Conway Hall-Yankee T L C)

Driver -- Brian Sears

Owner -- James De Armond and Russell Young

Trainer -- Jessica Okusko

Breeder -- Donald La Page

Time -- 1:57.4

Mutuel -- $7.60

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Sunday (Aug. 25) and features Family Fun Day and the very popular Wiener Dog Races. Post time for the first horse race is 1:15 p.m.

Speed and power leads Batavia to 7-5 win to keep first place

By Billie Owens

Submitted photo and press release:

With West Virginia winning to games in Auburn Friday night, the pressure was on the Batavia Muckdogs to win and keeps slim first place lead in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

Trailing 3-1, the Muckdogs rallied with speed and power, defeating State College 7-5.

Nic Ready had another monster game for Batavia (37-29) hitting an inside-the-park home run, his ninth of the season.

The Muckdogs are home tonight at 7:05 with State College with post-game fireworks. The game Sunday against Williamsport is at 5:05 p.m.

Ready, a 23rd-round draft pick of the Miami Marlins this year, had two hits, four RBIs and made several dazzling plays at third including one to end the game. Ready is an active member of the Air Force, where he graduated this past spring.

J.D. Orr is not only leading the league in average, but making a late-season push to the .400 mark as he went 3-for-5 with three runs, his third triple of the season and his seventh double. Orr, a 10th-round Marlins pick out of Wright State in Dayton, Ohio, is hitting .390.

Sean Reynolds, who blasted a 418-foot home run Thursday night, was walked twice, so the 21-year-old fourth-round draft pick of the Marlins in 2016 stole his third base of the season. Reynolds, who is 6-foot-8, 243 pounds, also went to third on a ball in the dirt, showing his speed.

Troy Johnston (double his 13th) also had two hits while Julian Infante had a RBI.

Jack Strunc stole a base and Milton Smith II stole his 19th base of the year.

Johnston and Strunc were playing in front of their fathers.

"I saw them behind home plate ... it was pretty awesome," Johnston said. "It's always good to get a Muckdogs win. That West Virginia series will be huge, we are hoping to win a couple there."

Strunc added, "We have to meep this winning up and hopefully make the playoffs. It always feels good to play good in front of your pops."

Edgar Martinez picked up the win, his third of the season, going five innings with five strikeouts and a walk. M.D. Johnson went two strong innings and Brock Love picked up his first hold going on inning with no hits and two strikeouts.

Batavia closer Evan Brabrand earned his 13th save going one inning with a hit, no runs, no walks and two strikeouts.

Upcoming schedule: Tonight home 7:05; and Saturday home 7:05 p.m. against State College. Sunday 5:05 p.m. against Williamsport; Monday home at 7:05 p.m. against Williamspor;t and Tuesday's game is at 11:05 a.m.

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Photo: Winning pitcher Edgar Martinez fires a pitch to the plate during Batavia's 7-5 victory Friday night.

Quincy Blue Chip cracks track record at Batavia

By Billie Owens

Quincy Blue Chip with driver Jim Morrill Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Quincy Blue Chip (Chapter Seven-Sirenuse) had a big night at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Aug. 23). She won the $118,800 New York Sire Stake (NYSS) sophomore filly trot, moved into the points and money earnings lead for her age and gender bracket and broke the standing track record for second year distaff trotters. 

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. left the gate easily with Quincy Blue Chip and took almost all of the :28.1 first quarter to make the front. But once they got the lead, the rest was history. With an open two-length lead, Quincy Blue Chip tripped the next two timers in :58.1 and 1:27.2, the last with With Out A Doubt (Marcus Miller) and Sensibility (Scott Zeron) directly at her flank pushing the issue. But Morrill let Quincy Blue Chip have her head and she trotted stronger as they headed into the stretch. Down the lane she was on cruise and crossed the line wrapped-up in 1:55.4. 

“I got her off the gate and eased her to the front. Once she got there she was very strong,” said her driver Morrill. “I popped the plugs at the three-quarters and she was gone. She trotted down the stretch a thousand; as fast as any 3-year-old filly I ever sat behind.”

The winning time of 1:55.4 was a new track record for 3-year-old trotting fillies, breaking the old mark of 1:56.4 set by Celebrity Ruth in 2017 and tied by Seventh Heaven that same year. 

It was the seventh win of the year for Quincy Blue Chip ($3.10) and it pushed her 2019 earnings to $343,425. She has now surpassed the half-million dollar mark lifetime with with $525,387 in the bank. 

Quincy Blue Chip is owned by Barbara and James Boese and Richard Banca, who also does the training. 

Before starting in the $225,000 NYSS final on the Night of Champions at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 14), Quincy Blue Chip will compete in the Hudson Filly Trot at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday (Aug. 31). 

Morrill had a big night in the bike besides this win as he ended up with a hat trick on the card to lead all drivers on Friday. 

Two divisions of the $15,000 Excel “A” series were also contested on Friday, producing the following results. 

Qiss Me Blue Chip  (Chapter Seven-Make It Blue Chip)

Driver -- Billy Davis Jr.

Owner -- Rick Zeron Stable, James Walker, Noblock Racing Stable and Blue Chip Bloodstock

Trainer -- Rick Zeron

Breeder -- Ray Schnittker, Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and Blue Chip Bloodstock

Time -- 1:58.2

Mutuel -- $9.70

Amal Hall (Credit Winner-Arabella Hall)

Driver -- Jason Bartlett

Owner -- Andy Miller Stable and DumaineHaven

Trainer -- Julie Miller

Breeder -- Walnut Hall

Time -- 1:57.3

Mutuel -- $2.40

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 24). Post time for the first race is 6 p.m.

Gimpanzee to race in NYSS at Batavia Saturday

By Billie Owens

Photo of Gimpanzee with Hall of Fame driver Brian Sears, courtesy of Fotowon.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

It’s not too often Batavia Downs gets to host a Hambletonian finalist and Dan Patch Award winner all in the same night, but Saturday (Aug. 24) will be one such occasion as Gimpanzee (Chapter Seven-Steamy Windows) will be in town to compete in the $118,500 New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters.  

After going a perfect nine for nine, sweeping all the NYSS legs and final and closing out the year with a win in the $600,000 Breeders Crown, Gimpanzee was named the Dan Patch 2-year-old colt trotter of 2018. He picked up at three right where he left off when he won his first start in the $215,200 Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs and then two consecutive NYSS events. He also took a new lifetime mark of 1:52.4 at Tioga Downs and ran his lifetime unbeaten streak to 12. 

His next start was the Hambletonian elimination where he was parked the whole mile from post seven and finished fourth, only a length behind Green Manalishi in a time of 1:50.3. He advanced to the final and experienced almost the exact same trip; left from post seven, was parked the whole mile and finished a strong closing third, beaten only a length behind the winner Forbidden Trade in 1:51.  

Gimpanzee’s first start in the three weeks since will be in the $58,700 division of the NYSS and for obvious reasons, he is heavily respected as the 1-5 morning line choice. Trainer Marcus Melander has his regular driver Hall of Famer Brian Sears in the bike and they drew post one in this seven-horse race. 

There will only be win betting offered on the race.

The Batavia Downs track record for 3-year-old trotting colts is 1:54.3 set by Archangel in 2012 and later tied by his son Top Flight Angel in 2017. Given Gimpanzee’s 1:55, 7-1/2 length romp over the half at Yonkers back in June, this record could be in serious jeopardy. 

In the second $59,800 split of the evening, Livinonthedash (Muscle Mass-Sunshine Glide) has been made the 2-1 morning choice and certainly looks the part. 

Livinonthedash comes in with four wins (all on half-mile tracks) out of his last five starts, the only loss in that stretch being to Gimpanzee. Unraced at two, he made his first state stake start in the Excel A series where he made a break and was placed sixth. From there his fortunes turned around. After two overnight starts at Harrah’s Philadelphia, Livinonthedash has since been a formidable contender in the NYSS and has the highest money earned ($129,622) and is the third highest point-getter (179) in his bracket. 

The father and son team of trainer Erv Miller and driver Marcus Miller will start from post four. 

Winnerup (Credit Winner-Up Front Hotsey) looks to make his presence known despite having drawn post eight as he is the highest money winner ($126,945) and has the second most points (200). Winnerup also likes a half-mile track having won easily at Monticello and Yonkers and just getting beat at Saratoga last week by Livinonthedash. 

Trainer Trond Smedshammer who usually drives Winnerup has put Brian Sears in the seat for this race and that is the first time anyone other than Smedshammer has sat behind this horse since April. 

Lucky Weekend (Lucky Chucky-Weekend Vacation) has only missed the board once in his last six starts and that was due to a break while out of contention. He comes into this race off a win at Yonkers as well and that was gate to wire from post eight. 

Jim Morrill Jr. picks up the lines for trainer Chris Lakata in here. 

There are also two $15,000 Excel A races on the card. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m.

Batavia Muckdogs come from behind to defeat State College and remain in first place

By Billie Owens

Submitted photos and press release:

For the better part of eight innings Thursday night, the Batavia Muckdogs were in danger dropping out of first place.

Enter the power of Nic Ready and Sean Reynolds.

After a Troy Johnston's RBI single gave Batavia a 5-4 lead, Ready blasted a two-run double followed by a 418-foot home run by Reynolds to center field.

Batavia (36-29) scored seven runs and went on to win, 9-5.

West Virginia fell to Auburn, 5-2 to drop to 34-29, one game behind Batavia. State College (Pa.) is 33-32 and three back.

Batavia and State College play again tonight at 7:05.

The Muckdogs trailed, 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Ready crushed his eighth home run of the season to left field. The ball left the yard in such a hurry the left fielder never moved.

Ready finished with four RBIs, and he returned from the New York-Penn League All-Star Game with six other teammates before the game.

"We are used to it, we like to think jet-lag is not a thing. We show up and play the game," Ready said. "We got some good rest, got some fluids in us, hydrated and go get them tonight.

"We knew we were in the lineup, we were at the all-star game for a reason so we might as well show it at our home field," Ready added.

Down 4-2 in the eighth, Ready, a 2019 Miami Marlins draft pick out of the Air Force, said the attitude was to win.

"We have a saying, 'Dogs, Never Die,' we are always in a fight, especially on our home turf, anything can happen," Ready said. "A team could take the lead, we put up seven runs late and come up to win it. We love playing at home, a lot of fans came out and we appreciate it."

The Muckdogs then played some outstanding defense as State College was threatening in the top of the sixth. Moises Castillo singled and Batavia center-fielder Milton Smith fired the ball to Muckdogs first baseman Sean Reynolds who alertly went to second base to nab Castillo. Second baseman Andrew Turner tagged him out then fired to Nic Ready at third base to get David Vinsky who originally was trying to score.

On the mound for Batavia, Jackson Rose started and struck out one in 4.1 innings, then Joniker Villalobos struck out two in one inning. Jeremy Galindez tossed 2.1 innings of one-run ball with two strikeouts. With runners on and State College leading 4-2, Edison Suriel came on and got a strikeout to end the seventh.

Suriel stayed in for the win, improving to 3-2 and he went 1.1 innings striking out three.

Tonight, the first 1,000 fans will receive a free 2019 team photo. There were 1,166 fans at the game Thursday at Dwyer Stadium.

It is also Crafty Hour sponsored by Eli Fish Brewing Co. for the first hour as all drafts are $3.

The Genesee County Economic Development Center is the game sponsor.

Saturday night there will be fireworks.

Upcoming schedule: Tonight home 7:05, and Saturday home 7:05 p.m. against State College. Sunday 5:05 p.m. against Williamsport. Monday, home at 7:05 p.m. against Williamsport; and Tuesday's game is at 11:05 a.m.

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Top photo: Sean Reynolds after a two-run home run in the eighth inning for Batavia.

Bottom photo: Gunner Pollman, Batavia's catcher, singles against State College (Pa.).

Unknown drone operator holding up Muckdogs' game at Dwyer Stadium, police responding

By Billie Owens

The general manager at Dwyer Stadium has contacted the Genesee County Dispatch Center to report a drone flying over the field; the operator is unknown.

"They are unable to continue with their normal operations," a dispatcher says.

City police are responding.

It's Thirsty Thursday and the Muckdogs were set to play the Spikes at 7:05 tonight.

First-place Muckdogs open six-game home stand tonight after all-star game

By Billie Owens

Photo: Batavia's all-stars, from left, J.D. Orr, Milton Smith II, Nic Ready, Josh Simpson, Troy Johnston, Brock Love and Julio Frias. Batavia's team won Wednesday, 7-3.

Submitted photos and press release:

Thanks to a rain delay, seven members of the Batavia Muckdogs may be a little tired tonight as the Muckdogs host State College (Pa.) in a six-game series that could decide the playoffs.

The players were in the New York-Penn League All-Star game Wednesday night and tonight Batavia plays at Dwyer Stadium at 7:05.

Batavia (35-29) and West Virginia (34-28) are tied at the top of the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division with tonight's opponent, West Virginia, in third place, two games back at 33-31.

The games Thursday, Friday and Saturday are at 7:05 p.m. On Sunday at 5:05 p.m. starts the series with Williamsport. The two teams play at 7:05 p.m. on Monday and 11:05 a.m. on Tuesday.

There are ticket and food and drink specials along with other promotions each game.

Wednesday night at the NYPL All-Star Game in Staten Island, Batavia's J.D. Orr and Milton Smith II put the game away early with their hitting, defense and speed.

Orr started the game with a sharp single, then went to second when a pitch just got past a catcher. He scored on a basest for a 1-0 lead for the Blue team.

Milton Smith II doubled in the second then with two outs had a head-first slide to score on a single. He also made a catch by the wall in left field to preserve the shutout.

Julio Frias threw a scoreless inning, Josh Simpson was perfect with a strikeout in his outing, earning a hold, as did Brock Love as the Blue team won, 7-3.

Nic Ready and Troy Johnston also played in the game and Ready hit two home runs in the first round of the home run derby pre-game tying him for first place. The rain stopped the derby and delayed the start of the Hall of Fame ceremony.

During the Hall of Fame Ceremony, the late Gene Baker, a former Batavia manager went in the hall. New York-Penn League President Ben Hayes talked about Baker and a video tribute was played in his honor.

Former Oneonta and New York Yankee Bernie Williams also went in the hall with Staten Island's Jane Rogers and the late Josiah Viera.

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Above photo: Batavia all-star Troy Johnston is joined by his father, David, and fiancee, Haleigh, at the game in Staten Island Wednesday.

Above photo: J.D. Orr and Troy Johnston share a laugh in the dugout as Milton Smith II looks at the rain clouds coming in before the all-star game Wednesday in Staten Island.

$35,000 guaranteed Pick-5 pool Friday at Batavia Downs

By Billie Owens

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Aug. 23) at 6 p.m., the track will feature a $35,000 guaranteed pool on the early Pick-5 wager that runs from race one to race five.

It is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are available for those races on the USTA website or by clicking here for a direct download.

The actual carry-over is $14,913 and the $35,000 guaranteed pool is the largest in the history of Batavia Downs. 

And to make it even more interesting, the fifth race of the Pick-5 is a $118,800 leg of the New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies that has Quincy Blue Chip and Winndevie facing off against each other once again.

Eight vie for $118,800 in NYSS at Batavia Friday

By Billie Owens

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

A short but select group of entrants will compete in one race for the winner’s share of the $118,800 up for grabs when the 3-year-old trotting fillies march into Batavia Downs for their 2019 New York Sire Stake (NYSS) local appearance. 

Quincy Blue Chip and Winndevie have been the two best horses in the state series for the past two years and will once again line up and face off at Batavia in the fifth race with six other competitors trying to derail them both. 

Quincy Blue Chip (Chapter Seven-Sirenuse) is having a career year with six wins, a lifetime mark of 1:53.2 and $284,025 in earnings to date. She won the $209,500 Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs in May and three NYSS events since then. She was on a two-race win streak going into her last start at Vernon Downs where she made an untimely break going to the quarter, trying to get the lead. 

Quincy Blue Chip currently sits in second place in points (191) and earnings ($160,715) in this series behind Winndevie, who also beat her in the NYSS 2-year-old final last year.

Quincy Blue Chip will try to get the best of her competition here and draws post five and trainer Richard Banca has regular driver Jim Morrill Jr. back up for this race. She has been made the track handicapper’s morning line choice at 2-1. 

Winndevie (Credit Winner-Vida De Vie) is the top point-getter (212) and money earner ($166,385) in her class this year, that includes three wins and without missing the board in any of her NYSS events. She comes into this race off a lifetime best performance at Vernon Downs where she won in 1:54 flat and appears to be as sharp as she’s been at any point in her career. 

Winndevie drew post eight and trainer Trond Smedshammer once again assigned Jason Bartlett to drive and that bodes well for her chances despite the post. She is listed at 7-2 morning line. 

This is the last leg of the NYSS 3-year-old trotting fillies and as the points go, six of the eight horses racing here Friday have already made the final. The two horses who are outside looking in are Blue Ribbon Gal (Credit Winner-Carolla) who could move into the final group of eight by merely finishing fifth and gaining a minimum of five points and Avalonia (Muscles Yankee-Ava Marion) who is already mathematically eliminated. 

Post time for the first race on Friday is 6 p.m.

Little Joke has last laugh in Batavia distaff Open

By Billie Owens

Photo: Little Joke and driver Billy Davis Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

With the prohibitive favorite coming up short, Little Joke took it upon herself to win the $12,500 fillies and mares Open I Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 21) and blow up the tote board at 21-1.

Lady London (Shawn McDonough) went right to the front while the rest of the field opted to stay in post position order behind her, except for HP Sissy (Ray Fisher Jr.) who broke behind the gate. Lady London went to the quarter in :28 and an even slower half of :57 and still no opposition from anyone in the race. 

As they moved into the third turn, 3-5 favorite Sidewalk Dancer (Hunter Oakes) pulled from fifth and tried to advance in the breeze. But progression was negligible as she hung a parked third to the three-quarters in 1:24.4, still 2-3/4 lengths behind the leader. At this point Billy Davis Jr., who had been enjoying a perfect trip in the two-hole with Little Joke, tugged the right line and asked the mare to drive on. And respond she did; pacing past Lady London at the top of the lane and then under an animated drive by Davis, held off a fast-closing Miss Mary Mach (Dave McNeight III) in deep stretch to win in 1:53.1. 

The time was a new seasonal mark for Little Joke and was only 1/5th of a second off the track record for aged pacing mares. 

It was the sixth win of the year for Little Joke ($44.20) who has now earned $50,928 for owners Vogel and Wags Nags Stable and Jack Rice. Maria Rice trains the winner. 

Davis and Rice had so much fun in the feature, they teamed up again for an instant replay in the $11,000 Open II Handicap with Hey Sweetie ($7), who like her stablemate earlier, tripped out behind the front-running Mach’s Echo (Drew Monti) until the top of the stretch where she pulled, took the lead and won in 1:55.1.

Hey Sweetie is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Adelphi Bloodstock.   

Billy Davis Jr. went on to win two more races, giving him the Grand Slam on the evening. 

Long prices seemed to be the theme of the day and in the third race, Missevil (John Cummings Jr.) was happy to oblige. She scored from post eight at 25-1 paying $52.50, beating 19-1 Keystone Zeta (James McNeight Jr.) who finished second. These top two finishers sparked an 8-3 exacta that returned $1,504, an 8-3-2 trifecta that paid $3,524 and an 8-3-2-ALL superfecta that produced an instant jackpot payout of $11,316.   

There was a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-5 pool at The Downs on Wednesday that was not hit and as a result another guarantee has been made. When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Aug. 23), the Pick-5 will have a guaranteed pool of $35,000 as part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and free program pages will be available on the USTA website as a result. This is the highest guaranteed pool ever offered in the history of Batavia Downs.

Young Batavia equestrian wins her division as Grand Champion in Dressage at State Fair

By Billie Owens

Photo and rider information submitted by reader Nancy Ewert.

SYRACUSE -- Katherine Ewert, 13, of Batavia, and her horse Seamus won Grand Champion for the Dressage Young Rider Division for both Training and First Level on Sunday at the New York State Fair.

This was a United States Dressage Federation Schooling Show.

Katherine has been competing in dressage for three years through Genesee County 4-H, two of them at the state level. Last year, she was Reserve Grand Champion in dressage at the NYS Fair.

The middle-schooler has been riding horses since age 10.

About Dressage

The word "dressage" is French, commonly translated to mean "training." It is a highly skilled form of horseback riding performed in exhibition and competition, as well as an "art" sometimes pursued solely for the sake of mastery. In dressage, horse and rider are expected to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements.

At its best, the horse responds smoothly to a skilled rider's minimal aids. The rider is relaxed and appears effort-free while the horse willingly performs the requested movement.

Rules for it were first published in 1550 by Frederico Grisone, a thousand year after the first treatise "On Horsemanship" by Xenophone.

In modern dressage competition, successful training at the various levels is demonstrated through the performance of "tests" -- a prescribed series of movements ridden within a standard arena. Judges evaluate each movement on the basis of an objective standard appropriate to the level of the test and assign each movement a score from zero to 10.

To learn more about dressage, click here.

$10,000 guaranteed Pick-5 pool Wednesday at Batavia

By Billie Owens

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 21) at 5 p.m., the track will feature a $10,000 guaranteed pool on the early Pick-5 wager that runs from race one to race five.

It is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering program and as such, free program pages are available for those races on the USTA website, or by clicking this for a direct download: http://bit.ly/Bat82119

The first race of the night, and of the Pick-5, is the $12,500 fillies and mare Open I Handicap pace and this week it’s loaded with talent.

Paul Zabielski’s Spreester (Drew Monti) is two for two at Batavia since shipping in from Saratoga Raceway, winning the Open II and Open I in successive outings. In her win last week, Spreester drew off by 11-3/4 lengths in the stretch and made a shambles of the competition in a season’s best 1:53.2 effort.

However this week Chris Oakes’ Sidewalk Dancer (Hunter Oakes) ships in from The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono fresh off of her top performance of the year; a 1:51, 3-1/4 length win in an upper-level conditioned event over the storied 5/8th's oval in Wilkes-Barre.

The 8-year-old Spreester has 51 lifetime wins whereas the 4-year-old Sidewalk Dancer is seasoned for her age, having faced the toughest 3-year-old fillies on the Grand Circuit all last year. These two will square-off in a heavyweight battle making the first leg of the $10,000 guaranteed Pick-5 a wide open affair.

Muckdogs tied for first heading into All-Star break

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs used a balk and a three-run home run to hold off Mahoning Valley, 8-6 on Monday night.

Meanwhile, in West Virginia, the host Black Bears fell to Williamsport, 8-7 in extra innings. As a result, Batavia (35-29) and West Virginia (34-28) are tied at the top of the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division heading into the All-Star break.

The break won't be relaxing for the Muckdogs as they have an NYPL high of seven players and three starters in the game on Wednesday at Staten Island.

On Monday night, Batavia trailed 2-0 to Mahoning Valley, a team that won four straight and was not allowing Batavia on the scoreboard.

Batavia shortstop Dalvy Rosario hit one of the biggest home runs of the season in the top of the third, a three-run home run to give Batavia the lead.

With the scored tied, 4-4 in the top of the seventh, J.D. Orr coaxed a balk, his eighth of the season as a runner causing a balk, allowing Albert Guaimaro to score the go-ahead run.

While Mahoning Valley would stick around, Joey Steele and Evan Brabrand shut the door for the win and the save, respectively.

Steele improved to 2-0 on his solid season, as he threw 2.1 innings of shut out ball, striking out four and giving up just two hits.

Steele, an all-star selection and 30th-round draft pick of the Miami Marlins out of University of San Francisco, lowered his ERA to 1.59. He has thrown 17 innings and walked just three wile striking out 28.

Meanwhile, Brabrand, who has made a final-score impact in the stats in every game he has pitched in but one (that was a perfect inning), had a new roll on Monday.

Batavia manager Tom Lawless, looking to stop Mahoning Valley's win streak and Batavia's losing streak, brought Brabrand in with two outs in the eighth. The 6-3 righty closer out of Liberty in Lynchburg, Va., where he was a ninth-round pick of the Marlins, hit the first batter in the ninth, but got a double play to end the game.

Brabrand now has 12 saves on the season and a 3-1 record in 17 games. He has struck out 21 in 17 innings, walked just one and given up just three runs for a 1.59 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.

Josh Simpson picked up his sixth hold of the season striking out one while Andrew Miller had the start and struck out five over 4.1 innings.

Rosario, just 19 and a Marlins signing out of the Dominican Republic, is 10-for-23 (.435) in his last six games. In addition to his second home run of the season, he also crushed his 13th double of the season, scored twice, had the three RBIs and a walk.

J.D. Orr, who will start in left in the all-star game, increased his NYPL leading average to .387 going 2-for-4 with a RBI and run.

Troy Johnston had a hit and an RBI while Nic Ready and Guaimaro each had a single, Sean Reynolds walked and scored, Harrison Dinicola had two hits and scored and Jack

Strunc had a double and a run. Catcher Dustin Skelton also had an RBI single and scored a run for Batavia.

The all-stars for the Muckdogs are Ready, Orr, Johnston, Milton Smith II, and pitchers Julio Frias, Brock Love and Josh Simpson.

The game is hosted by the Staten Island Yankees and starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Just one game separates seven teams fighting for four spots in the NYPL playoffs.

The Muckdogs return home on Thursday for three straight crucial home games at 7:05 each night against State College (Pa.), then three more home games against Williamsport.

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Photo: The Batavia Muckdogs are in first place at the All-Star break with just 12 games left and one game separates seven teams from the playoff spots. The Muckdogs are home at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia starting Thursday for six straight games that could decide the division. Batavia Muckdogs head into All-Star break and home stretch in first place.

Photo: Sunset at Dwyer Stadium

By Howard B. Owens

Kayla McIntire shared this photo with us of sunset at Dwyer Stadium during Friday's Muckdogs game.

Black Is Back wins Batavia Open; Gray wins five

By Billie Owens

Photo: Black Is Back with driver Driver Dave McNeight III.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Black Is Back took full advantage of post one in Saturday night’s (Aug.17) $12,500 Open Handicap pace at Batavia Downs, going gate to wire in impressive fashion.

Driver Dave McNeight III flew off the wings to claim the point with Black Is Back in the first turn and then kept his foot on the gas to the quarter in :27 flat. The race was basically over at that point as the pair would just continue to extend their lead from there. 

After hitting the half in :56.2 on top by 1-½, Black Is Back paced away to a two length lead at three-quarters and four lengths by the top of the stretch. As he turned for home, McNeight sat statuesque as the wrapped-up Black Is Back continued to pull away and hit the beam on top by seven in 1:53.2. 

It was the second win in four Batavia Downs starts and seventh win of the year for Black Is Back ($3.70) who now has banked $50,110 this year for owners Curtis Edholm and Mihajlo Zdjelar Sr.. Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. trains the winner. 

The $11,000 Open II Handicap also went to a coast to coast winner; Tullow N. 

John Cummings Jr. rousted Tullow N off the gate and to the front and never let anyone get close to them the whole mile. After clicking off fractions of  :27.4, :56.4 and 1:24.4 with a loose lead to boot, the field was scattered behind Tullow N except for Manceiver (Drew Monti) who sat the pocket the entire way and was close enough to be considered a contender. But Tullow N didn’t see it that way as he turned for home and pulled away to a 2-¾ length win in 1:53.1. 

With $55,135 in earnings on the strength of four wins in 2019, Tullow N ($8.10) is also two for four since coming to Batavia Downs. Blindswitch Racing owns the 8-year-old altered son of Mach Three-Tessa Bromac and Dave Russo does the training.

Shawn Gray was in from Saratoga to drive on Saturday and put on a clinic while he was here. Gray won half the card; five out of the 10 races including a natural Hat Trick in the final three races of the night. He had his picture taken with Best Ears (1:54, $9.20), Myell’s Rockstar (1:54.2, $6.30), Thisjetsabookin (1:54.2, $4.20), M G Home Run (1:56, $13.60) and P C Shockwave (1:56.4, $2.60). The five-bagger vaulted him from ninth to fourth in the local driver standings in one night. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on this afternoon (Aug. 18) at 1:15 p.m. Sunday will feature a $3,000 guaranteed pool on the early Pick-5 wager that runs from race one to race five. It is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering program and as such, free program pages are available for those races on the USTA website or by clicking here for a direct download. (http://bit.ly/2Nc7pwj)

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