Sports

Marcus Melander (inset photo, left) has come a very long way in harness racing in a very short amount of time. After making the move to North America from his home in Sweden at the age of 21 to work for Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Takter, Melander went off on his own and hasn’t looked back. 

Over the last five years, Melander’s stable has won in excess of $7.8 million in purses, had five trotters reach the Hambletonian final and was awarded two year-end Dan Patch Awards for divisional winning horses.  

Melander himself received the 2018 Dan Patch Rising Star Award this past February in Orlando, Florida in recognition of his exceptional early career accomplishments. 

This year two of the best horses in his stable just happen to be New York-bred and both are undefeated in their New York Sire Stake (NYSS) starts this year.

They are 3-year-old trotting colt Gimpanzee and 2-year-old trotting filly Hypnotic Am and they both will be competing in the $1.8 million NYSS Night of Champions at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 14).

(Photo of Gimpanzee.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs​

In his freshman season, Gimpanzee was undefeated going nine for nine. He swept the NYSS to become the 2-year-old champion, won the $600,000 Breeders Crown final and amassed a total of $591,358 for the year. That earned him the 2018 Dan Patch Award for 2-year-old trotting colts.

This year Gimpanzee started out by running up his lifetime undefeated streak to 13 before joining Melander stablemates Greenshoe and Green Manalishi S in the Hambletonian final.

Gimpanzee got parked out from post seven in his elimination and finished fourth. He then drew post seven again in the final, went a similar trip and finished third. He closed very well in both starts (:26.4 and :26.2) and was only beaten a length in each race. Melander reflected on those starts as he was preparing him for the New York finals this weekend. 

“He went tremendous in both races and finished strong in both despite having the seven hole. If he had a little better post in the final I think he could win the race because he was flying home. But he raced real good that day and we could not be more happy. He showed everyone that he is fast enough,” said Melander.  

Despite the task of racing two heats in one day, Gimpanzee came out unfazed and continued his winning ways at Batavia on Saturday (Aug. 24). 

“He came out of those heats better than I thought but that doesn’t surprise me. He’s very laid back and easy on himself. It was good that there were no eliminations for the Yonkers Trot so we could bring him up to Batavia that week and get some more points and get some experience around that track. It was a great surface to race over at Batavia and he got around it very well,” said Melander.  

After the New York final, Gimpanzee will be going down to the Red Mile for the Bluegrass Series and the Kentucky Futurity with his sights strongly focused on a second Breeders Crown championship. 

(Photo of Hypnotic Am.)

Stablemate Hypnotic Am hasn’t visited Batavia yet this year because she was busy winning the $310,000 James Doherty Memorial at the Meadowlands the week her division competed there.  

Hypnotic Am was bred by her owner Courant and was such an impressive yearling that they sent her to Melander to train, rather than the sale last fall. And clearly that has worked out well for all involved. 

“She trained down good and every start she seems to get better and better. She has no problem doing the work herself; she has speed, she has stamina, she has everything a good horse should have,” said Melander. “She went a big mile in the Doherty (1:53), a track record at Yonkers (1:56.1) and was a was very strong as a wrapped-up winner at Saratoga in 1:54.4 over an off track. She’s a very nice filly.”  

Her performances this year speak volumes. She is currently the fastest 2-year-old trotter overall in North America, richest 2-year-old trotting filly and the second richest overall behind Real Cool Sam, who has raced two more starts to this point and is coincidentally also undefeated at 8-8.

After the NYSS final, Melander said she may head down to Lexington for the Grand Circuit races as well, but that will be a decision he makes later. But one thing is for sure, she will compete in the Breeders Crown. 

“We may go to Kentucky, depending on how she races and comes out of the race this week. I like to be careful with the 2-year-olds because they can get sick and that can happen very easily when they travel.” 

Both Gimpanzee and Hypnotic Am are by Chapter Seven out of a granddaughter of Muscles Yankee. It's a cross Melander likes and his trotting star of two years ago Fourth Dimension, who was a four-time NYSS winner and the 2017 Dan Patch Award 2-year-old trotting colt of the year, had the same.

Melander looks to continue his success in New York in the coming years, stating the program helps develop young talent.   

“I think it’s a very good series and although there are a lot of half mile tracks, most of them have good surfaces. Many are very soft for the horses and that helps a young horse a lot. And as long as the tracks are good, that’s good for the horse’s futures then it works great to have them in this program,” said Melander. “I will be shopping for New York horses at the sales this fall and if I can find something I like I will definitely try to buy them. I like the New York circuit. It’s good money and a good program for us.” 

The $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions that are comprised of eight $225,000 races will be held at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 14) with a first race post time of 6 p.m. 

The draw for that card is on Wednesday (Sept. 11) at noon and will be live streamed on the NYSS website as well as both the NYSS and Batavia Downs Facebook pages. Batavia native and New York State Assemblyman Stephen M. Hawley will serve as the honorary drawmaster. 

Peter Kleinhans will be the track’s guest host and handicapper for the in-house and simulcast broadcast and Heather Wilder will be in the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle interviewing the winners and all their connections after each stake race.

There will be two $7,500 guaranteed pools in both the early and late Pick-4 wagers that night and both will be all-stake Pick-4’s (races 3-6 and races 7-10). The pools are part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and free program pages will be available on the USTA’s website and through links on the Batavia Downs Facebook page when they become available. 

Free full card programs will also be available for download from the Daily Racing Form starting Thursday. 

There will be a T-shirt giveaway courtesy of the NYSS on Saturday night as well. Fans attending the races live only need to swipe their Player’s Club card at guest services starting at 4:30 p.m. to receive a ticket to get their shirt after the seventh race.

(Melander photo courtesy of Mark Hall.)

(Gimpanzee photo courtesy of Paul White.)

(Hypnotic Am photo courtesy of Fred Brown.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Every Wednesday during the month of September, the Pick-5 pool at Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel will be guaranteed at $2,500.

The Pick-5 wager begins in race one and runs through race five. It is a 50-cent base wager and if all five winners aren’t selected, the carryover amount moves to the Friday program.

Wednesday’s guaranteed pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages will be available each week courtesy of Trackmaster and will be available on the USTA’s website.

Wednesday’s (Sept. 11) program pages can be downloaded here.

Photo of Tyler Buter courtesy of USTA.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

After only one year of competing full time on the New York Sire Stake (NYSS) circuit, Tyler Buter claimed his first driving title in the series as its top reinsman for both wins and earnings. In a category long dominated by Hall of Famer Wally Hennessy and Jim Morrill Jr., Buter hopes to become as familiar a name driving champion New York-bred Standardbreds as theirs.

Buter will be a busy man on Saturday (Sept. 14) when he returns to Batavia Downs for the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Night of Champions. 

A native of Michigan, Tyler Buter has been one of the most consistent and sought after drivers in the northeast over the past 10 years. The 34-year-old Manchester native started driving at age 17 and got his first win at the Gladwin Fair in his home state in 2002 with a horse named I Luv My Pasture. 

Earlier this year he hit his career milestone 3,000^th win with Daddy Let Me Drive at the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and in between he has spent time perfecting his craft at tracks in Michigan and Chicago before moving to Monticello, Yonkers and the Meadowlands while earning over $38 million in purses. 

Currently calling the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono home, Buter still does often compete at the other venues. But an event that occurred this past February that affected both his personal and professional life prompted him to make a career-changing decision. 

“Earlier this year my longtime owner and friend Gene Oldford passed away and a lot of things changed. After discussing it with my family I decided to get away from running a stable and focus on driving full time,” Buter said. “And as it turned out, many of the trainers I have been driving for had horses in the NYSS and I made the decision to commit to making all the dates and it’s worked out well for me.”  

Buter had made some sporadic starts in the series before this year but 2019 was the first time he committed his whole summer to it. 

“There are some excellent horses coming out of New York; the breeding is great and the competition is second to none," Buter said. "I’ve enjoyed this year and look forward to driving here again next year."

And based on his results in the bike, the connections of the New York-bred horses he drives are looking forward to it as well. 

Buter posted 25 wins out of 87 starts and had a stellar .390 Universal Driver Rating (UDR) as a result of hitting the board over 50 percent of the time in the NYSS and that gave him just over $1 million in purses for those starts. 

When asked about winning the driving title, Buter was quick to praise his competition and not focus on himself. 

“Jason (Bartlett, 2017 leading driver) and Jimmy (Morrill, 2018 leading driver) and myself have put in a lot of miles this year and it was a great competition right to the end. All the guys who compete here are tough and make you earn every dollar and that makes you better as a driver,” Buter said.  

Although he missed a lot of starts with overnight horses during the summer, Buter realized something he truly enjoys in his new role. 

“I really like racing 2- and 3-year-olds. I like helping them to develop and seeing when the light bulb comes on in their head as they mature. That’s when they finally get it and move forward. And it’s very gratifying to know you had a part in that growth.” 

The $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions that are comprised of eight $225,000 races will be held at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 14) with a first race post time of 6 o'clock.

The draw for that card is on Wednesday (Sept. 11) at noon and will be streamed live on the NYSS website as well as both the NYSS and Batavia Downs Facebook pages. Batavia native and New York State Assemblyman Stephen M. Hawley will serve as the honorary drawmaster. 

There will be two $7,500 guaranteed pools in both the early and late Pick-4 wagers that night and both will be all-stake Pick-4s (races 3-6 and races 7-10). The pools are part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and free program pages will be available on the USTA’s website and through links on the Batavia Downs Facebook page when they become available. 

Free full card programs will also be available for download from the Daily Racing Form starting Thursday. 

There will be a T-shirt giveaway courtesy of the NYSS on Saturday night as well. Fans attending the races live only need to swipe their Player’s Club card at guest services starting at 4:30 p.m. to receive a ticket to get their shirt after the seventh race.

Photo: Tullow N out front with driver John Cummings Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Tullow N was all business when he went to the front and never looked back en route to winning the $12,500 Open I Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 7).

Driver John Cummings Jr. flew off the wings with Tullow N and had one thing in mind; going down the road. After Tullow N settled on the pylons he was immediately confronted by Sir Pugsley (Jim Morrill Jr.) who was also on the attack. Cummings never flinched and refused to give up the lead and as a result, the two horses paced side by side to the quarter in :27.2 and to the half in :54.4.

Heading up the backside on the second circuit, Tullow N was pacing strong on the point while Sir Pugsley succumbed to brutal trip. Tullow N opened up a two length lead by the three-quarters in 1:23.2 but saw Race Me Rocky (Shawn McDonough) pull from third to advance, the pocket-sitting Southwind Torque (Billy Davis Jr.) was getting closer and Some Attitude (Shawn Gray) joined the party at the top of the stretch.

Heading to the wire they were four across the track but Tullow N was not to be denied on this night and hung on by one-half length to win in 1:53.2.

It was the fourth score of the meet and sixth of the year for Tullow N ($7.20) who is owned by Blindswitch Racing and trained by Dave Russo.

In the $11,000 Open II pace, Rock To Glory (Shawn Gray) got away third and stayed there for a half before pulling first-over past the five-eighths pole to out-muscle the front-running Manceiver (Ray Fisher Jr.) down the lane and win by a length in 1:54.1.

It was the fourth win in the last five starts and the sixth of the year for Rock To Glory ($12.40) who is owned by Tessa Roland and trained by JD Perrin.

Shawn Gray and Billy Davis Jr. both had driving grand slams on the night while John Cummings Jr. scored a double.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Sept. 11) with a 5 p.m. post time.

Photos and information from Mary Easterbrook:

The Pembroke High School Girls Volleyball Team took second place in the tournament Saturday against Albion.

Pembroke went 4-2 in brackets beating Albion and Charter School of Applied Tech (CSAT) in Buffalo, and losing to Akron putting them into the gold playoffs.

They beat Medina in the semifinals 27-25 and 25-19, taking them into the Championships where they had a hard loss to Akron 25-18 and 30-28.

Middle hitter Dekari Moss got all tournament team with 22 kills and an amazing 16 solo blocks.

Setter Olivia Mets has 26 assists while outside hitter Emma Gutowski had six aces and eight kills.

The stats don't speak for the scrappy smart plays the Lady Dragons as a team made to come out with some big wins!

Above, Lougazi with driver Ray Fisher Jr. in the lead.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Two top class Open races -- one on the trot and one on the pace --  were carded on Friday night (Sept. 6) at Batavia Downs and Lougazi and Miss Mary Mach provided very exciting finishes in their respective contests.

It’s been four weeks since Lougazi came away a winner, but that all changed Friday in the $12,500 Open I Handicap trot. 

CR Blazin Beauty (John Cummings Jr.) took her usual spot on the lead while Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) tucked-in sixth off the gate. After single-file following occurred for the first three-eighths, Joey Pro (Shawn McDonough) came first up from third and Lougazi was obliged to follow. 

Rolling up the backside, CR Blazin Beauty continued to set the tone but Joey Pro had enough. That meant Fisher tipped Lougazi three-deep and and had him in full flight around the far turn. As they came down the lane, Lougazi matched strides with CR Blazin Beauty before clearing in mid-stretch. From there Fisher fist-pumped while Lougazi crossed the wire first in 1:56.2, which was a new lifetime mark. 

It was the sixth win of 2019 for Lougazi ($5.90) and it raised his earnings to $62,250 for the year for owner Mary Warriner. Ryan Swift trains the winner.

(Above: Miss Mary Mach with driver Jim Morrill Jr. pulls ahead in photo finish.)

Then in the $12,500 Open I Handicap distaff pace, Miss Mary Mach entered the double-digit win category after an exhilarating stretch drive to victory. 

It was the tale of two strategies. HP Sissy (John Cummings Jr.) bolted for the front while Miss Mary Mach (Jim Morrill Jr.) got away last. HP Sissy paced along easily in :27.4, :56.2 and 1:24.4 with no one giving her grief. At the three-quarters, Miss Mary Mach was still last and boxed in as well, without much of a shot to get out. 

As the race came off the final bend the horses outside of Miss Mary Mach faded and she finally had some room to roam. However HP Sissy was still four lengths ahead with only an eighth of a mile to go. Morrill had the plugs popped and was working hard in the sulky, but Miss Mary Mach was working hard on her own as she paced up a storm in the stretch and nosed out HP Sissy under the wire in 1:54.2.

It was the 10th win of the year for Miss Mary Mach ($5) and pushed her to $81,887 in earnings for the year. Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi own the 4-year-old daughter of Mach Three-Mary Artman who is trained by James Clouser Jr. 

Several horsemen had very productive nights at Batavia on Friday.

Wade Tomaszewski, Jim Morrill Jr. and Billy Davis Jr. had driving triples. On the training side, James Clouser Jr. had three from is stable visit the winner’s circle while Chris Naedele and Steve Kiblin each won two. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 7) with a 6 p.m. post time.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Horseman please be advised that the draw for Wednesday (Sept. 11) has been pushed back one day from Friday (Sept. 6) to Saturday (Sept. 7) with the entry box closing at its normal 9 a.m. time. 

Driver changes will be due on Saturday (Sept. 7) by 1 p.m.

Anyone seeking further information should contact racing secretary Joe Zambito at 585-344-6161.

The 2019 racing season continues through Saturday (Dec. 14) with racing conducted every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night through the end of November. 

In December racing will be held on Friday and Saturday nights only. The only other exception is Columbus day week when racing will be held on Monday, Friday and Saturday.

The compete racing schedule can be found at www.bataviadownsgaming.com.

Submitted photo and press release:

Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pa., will have 31 student-athletes representing its women's soccer program for the 2019 season, including Margaret Cecere, of Batavia.

The 2019 season will bring a new look to the Kutztown University Women's Soccer Team. With the renovation of Kutztown Field, KU will have a ton of positive energy around the program, as it continues to compete to achieve its lofty, yearly goals of winning championships.

Not only will the field be different for the Golden Bears this year, but the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) has also changed up its format for women's soccer. Since 2010, the PSAC has had a single division. With the addition of Shepherd University to the conference, the PSAC is now instituting two divisions (East and West), a first since it last had two divisions in 2009. Each team plays each other twice during the regular season.

Kutztown was recently voted second in the Eastern Division of the PSAC preseason poll, behind defending conference champs and nationally ranked Bloomsburg. Nationally ranked West Chester, 2017 PSAC champion East Stroudsburg, and 2018 semifinalist Millersville round out the top-five in a very competitive division featuring a majority of the top teams in the Atlantic Region.

But Head Coach Erik Burstein, beginning his 13th season as head coach, once again has an experienced and talented team that has played in big, postseason games earlier in their careers.

"I have tremendous faith in this group," Burstein said. "We have some exceptional athletes who work hard, have great attitudes, buy into our culture, believe in our system and have worked hard to adapt to their new roles and responsibilities.

"They are an exciting group who truly want to be successful, and I believe they will be. However, we all know this new divisional format will provide some very different and unique challenges. We need to focus on one game at a time and make sure we finish in the top four in the East. Once that is accomplished, we can start thinking about competing for championships. Stay humble and stay focused; one game at a time."

KU finished the 2018 season at 14-4-2 overall and qualified for both the PSAC and NCAA Atlantic Region tournaments. It was the third consecutive NCAA berth and eighth in 10 years. Dating back to the 2008 season, Kutztown has earned 11 straight PSAC Tournament appearances.

Kutztown begins its 2019 campaign with back-to-back road games. It will take on the University of Charleston (WV) in the season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, and then play at Millersville on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The home-opener in the brand-new Keystone Field complex will be Saturday night, Sept. 14, under the lights at 6 p.m., against East Stroudsburg.