Sports

Osprey Vision with reinsman Drew Monti, second from outside and pulling ahead.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The old wagering adage suggesting you bet the longest shot in the shortest field was right on point in the $10,000 Open Handicap Trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Sept. 29) as Osprey Vision scored big after being overlooked at 10-1 in the five-horse field.

With the late scratch of Lutetium, Noble Legend (Jim Morrill Jr.) decided to be the leader to follow this week and took that position shortly after the start. With a sloppy track and no early opposition, Morrill took the field down to the half in :58.1 and looked comfortable in doing so.

As the group was into the second circuit, Egosnattitudes (Larry Stalbaum) was motoring up on the outside with Osprey Vision (Drew Monti) second over. But halfway up the backstretch Egosnattitudes copped one and made a break, leaving Osprey Vision advancing alone towards the leader around the final turn. By the time the race hit the head of the lane Osprey Vision looked Noble Legend in the eye before trotting right by. Osprey Vision then maintained the lead while holding off the late charging Barn Winner (Ray Fisher Jr.) and BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) to win in 1:59.2.

Osprey Vision ($23.80) now has eight wins and $55,814 earned this year for owner Marissa Russo and trainer David Russo.

In the $8,000 Open II trot Empire Earl N (Larry Stalbaum) broke a six-week drought, coming from way off the pace at the half following dull outside cover before tipping three-deep off the last turn to close down the lane and win by a neck in 1:59.4.

Empire Earl N ($12) registered his sixth win of the year and bumped his bank to $55,590 for his owner who drives him, Larry Stalbaum. The New Zealand bred son of Earl is trained by Kim Asher.

Ray Fisher Jr. had a driving triple on Friday. Drivers scoring two wins included Drew Monti and Larry Stalbaum. Trainers getting two wins included Kim Asher, David Russo and Angelo Nappo.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Sept. 30) at 6 p.m.

Photo of Miss Irish Rose A with reinsman Larry Stalbaum.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Aussie invader Miss Irish Rose A, who was privately purchased from down-under on Aug. 23 by Larry Stalbaum, made her North American debut a winning one by taking the $9,500 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 27) as heavy downpours moved through the area.

From the start, Machin Marley (Kevin Cummings) and Squeeze This (Jim Morrill Jr.) argued vehemently for the lead over the rain-soaked track and pushed the quarter to :28 flat. Machin Marley settled on the front around the second bend and proceeded to take the race to the half in :58. At that station the race became a two-tiered event with Who Says That (Ray Fisher Jr.), Classy Lane Rose (Drew Monti) and Miss Irish Rose A (Larry Stalbaum) advancing in the outer flow.

With three-in and three-out, there was a lot of action up the backside as Who Says That took the lead from Machin Marley for an eighth of a mile before Classy Lane Rose wrestled it from her at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.4. But Miss Irish Rose A was still on the attack and drew alongside the latest leader around the final turn, and then getting a slight advantage at the head of the stretch. It was Rose v. Rose as they headed for the finish; Classy Lane inside and Miss Irish outside. But despite a good fight, Miss Irish Rose A pulled away from her formidable foe about ten yards from the wire and won by a length in 1:54.2.

The 10th lifetime win for Miss Irish Rose A ($3) was not only her first in the northern hemisphere; it was also a lifetime mark for the 5-year-old daughter of McArdle. Kim Asher trains the winner.

In the $8,000 Mares Open II pace, Voltina (Kevin Cummings) abandoned her normal front-running posture in lieu of a two-hole trip to victory behind Mean Pauline (Shawn McDonough) courtesy of the passing lane in 1:56.1.

Voltina ($7.10) is owned by CHS Racing LLC and is trained by Tony Cummings.

Kevin Cummings had the driving hat-trick on Wednesday while Drew Monti, Larry Stalbaum and Ray Fisher Jr. each each had two wins apiece. Trainer Kim Asher also sent two from her stable to the winner’s enclosure.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Friday, Sept. 29) with post time at 6 o'clock.

Batavian Mary Ann Stone is among six division winners of the 37^th NYS Women’s Senior Singles Championships who have earned the opportunity to compete in the USBC Senior Championships next August in Reno, Nev.

Stone placed first in the 60-64 age classification at the state tournament last month at East Greenbush Bowling Center near Albany, posting 1,405 with handicap for six games.

The right-hander rolled 1,063 scratch – much better than her 153 average – to outdistance second-place Keesa Bess of Binghamton by 53 pins.  Stone won $160.

Her effort gives her the right to represent New York State at the national tournament, which is scheduled for Aug. 7-9, 2018, at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno.

Stone is part of a bowling family that includes husband, Roger; brother, local Hall of Famer Fred Gravanda, and cousin, Paul Spiotta, also a Hall of Famer.

The New York State USBC pays the entry fee and provides some expense money for those who bowl at the national level.

Around 550 women participated in the state tournament in six age groups – 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75 and over.

For more about the Women's Senior Singles Tournament and the NYS Open Senior Championships in Liverpool next month, go to www.bowlny.com.

PBA DEVELOPS NEW OIL PATTERNS TO MARK 60^TH YEAR

As it commemorates its 60^th anniversary, the GoBowling! Professional Bowlers Association is set to unveil 16 different oil patterns – including the new (and difficult) 45-foot Dragon and the new (and easy) Chris Paul “house shot.”

It’s a good idea, especially in light of the ever-changing technology that is dominating the sport.

According to a PBA news release, some of the revised patterns will be used during the season-opening GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling IX in Reno from Nov. 7-19.

Each of the patterns vary in length, oil volume and shape, and will be used exclusively during the GoBowling! PBA Tour, PBA50 Tour and PBA Regional program’s 2018 seasons. Each will include a number in its name to indicate the length of the pattern.

Some of the PBA tournaments and their patterns are as follows:

-- Cheetah 33, Chameleon 39, Scorpion 42, Shark 45 and Earl Anthony 42 patterns, World Series of Bowling IX, Nov. 7-19.
-- Don Johnson 40 pattern at the PBA Tournament of Champions in Akron, Feb. 5-11.
-- Dick Weber 45 at the Go Bowling! PBA 60th Anniversary Classic in Indianapolis, Feb. 13-18.
-- Carmen Salvino 44 at the Barbasol PBA Players Championship in Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 19-25.
-- Mark Roth 42 will be used for the Roth/Holman PBA Doubles Championship in Columbus, Ohio, Feb, 19-25, and for the PBA League competition in Portland, Maine, April 16-22.

The oil pattern library also will include the Dragon 45, Wolf 33, Viper 36, Bear 39 and Johnny Petraglia 36.

YOUTH ELIMINATOR, MORASCO EVENT SCHEDULED

Perry Bowling Center is hosting the 6^th annual Genesee Region USBC Youth Eliminator Tournament, featuring scholarships for the top eight bowlers (based on at least 24 entries), on Saturday, Oct. 28.

The tourney is open to Genesee Region USBC youth members only (boys and girls). The entry fee is $25 with each participant guaranteed at least four games.

The handicap event lists one squad – 12:30 p.m.

To enter, contact GRUSBC President Tom Fluker at 585-284-2637 or by email at tfstrikeforce@msn.com.

Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia is hosting the 2^nd annual Brian Morasco Memorial 3-Person Handicap No-Tap Tournament on Nov. 4, with squads at noon, 2 and 4 p.m.

First place, based on 48 entries, is $750.  Proceeds from the tournament and a basket raffle will go to Genesee Cancer Assistance and the Arthritis Foundation.

To enter, contact Mark Brown at 716-474-7960 or call Mancuso’s at 585-343-1319.

SPARE SHOTS: SCOPANO’S YOUTH SIGN-UPS THIS WEEKEND

-- Carrie Monachino is returning for a second year as coordinator of the Paradise Youth Junior League at Scopano’s Lanes in Oakfield and she reports the program will begin on Oct. 14 and run for 20 weeks through Feb. 24, 2018.

Sign-ups for the league are this weekend – from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at the 12-lane center on South Pearl Street.  The registration fee is $20.

Entrants (it’s open to boys and girls) must be at least 4 years old as of Aug. 1, 2017 or enrolled in either a UPK or Kindergarten for the 2017-18 school year. All squads will be comprised of mixed age groups to allow families to bowl at the same time.

The league also will be conducting a pulled pork BBQ fundraiser at Caryville Inn in Oakfield from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 5.

For more information, contact Carrie at 585-356-8307.

-- Medina Lanes produced a couple of honor scores on Sept. 21 as Curtis Foss rolled 299 and Joe Brower 290 in the Thursday Firefighters League. Rob Dennis picked the 4-6-7-10 (also known as the Double Pinochle or Big 4) on that night.

The league still has openings for teams and individuals.

Jim Foss, employee at Medina Lanes, said he is hoping to floor a Sunday morning coed handicap doubles league, with a target starting date of Oct. 15.  If you’re interested, call Medina Lanes at 585-318-4474.

-- At Perry Bowling Center, Chris Huntz strung 11 strikes before leaving the 2-4-5 in the Monday Night League on Sept. 18.

-- Fluker indicated that the Genesee Region Youth Travel League is expected to have at least 15 teams this season, including five from Mancuso Bowling Center.

Fluker said the league’s opening session is set for 12:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Mancuso’s. Other teams will be from Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion (three), Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen (two) and Perry, Mount Morris, Medina, Scopano’s and Legion Lanes in Le Roy.

-- The County Line Stone League at Scopano’s has bowled two weeks thus far, but can use a few more bowlers to fill teams. If you’re interested in bowling on a four-person team, contact Bruce Kraus, league secretary, at 716-695-5041.

Bill Hayes, president of Turnbull Heating & Air, poses with three members of the Turnbull Junior League at Mancuso Bowling Center that he will be sponsoring this season, from left, Ashlynn Shisler, Bailey Quilliam and Jack Pickard. Hayes has sponsored the league for about 20 years.

Noble Legend with driver Ray Fisher Jr. 

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Noble Legend looked very sharp on the front end while defeating six top-end trotters as well as an inquiry at the wire to win the $10,500 Open Handicap trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Sept. 22).

Noble Legend (Ray Fisher Jr.) left strong off the gate and established a loose two-length advantage on the front end. After passing the quarter in :28.3 the post time favorite Egosnattitudes (Larry Stalbaum) pulled from last and flushed Striker Ace (Kevin Cummings) after they tripped the timer at :58.3 for the half.

Moving up the backside Noble Legend was still strong on the lead as Striker Ace bowed out of the competition. As a result Egosnattitudes tipped three-wide at the three-quarters and advanced to second by the top of the lane. Stalbaum started urging his trotter as he drew closer to the leader, but before he could gain the advantage Egosnattitudes broke wildly halfway down the stretch and galloped across the wire a neck ahead of Noble Legend.

As a result of the obvious lapped-on break, Egosnattitudes was disqualified by the judges and placed last while 
Noble Legend was named the official winner, timed in 1:57.1.

It was the seventh win of the year for Noble Legend ($7) who has now earned $61,370 in 2017 for owners Vogel & Wags Nags Stable and Jack Rice. Maria Rice trains the winner.

In the $8,000 Open II trot, Barn winner (Ray Fisher Jr.) was third at the half, gapped seven-lengths and chasing a runaway Lutetium (John Cummings Jr.) who took the field to a 1:25.3 third quarter, before pulling in the far turn and trotting right by the fading leader to win in 1:56, which was a new lifetime mark for the winner.

Barn Winner ($20.20) now boasts nine wins on the year and $35,310 in the bank. The 3-year-old gelded son of Credit Winner was purchased privately on Aug. 29 by his current owners Tanah Merah Farms LLC and the Swift Racing Stable and is trained by Ryan Swift.

Kevin Cummings had a big night, winning four races on the card. He got across with Pilgrims All In ($5, 1:57.4), Shawnee Magic ($8.90), 1:58.1), Ona Dream ($6.40, 1:59.3) and Kings Treasure ($5, 1:55.3).

Ray Fisher Jr. had a driving triple himself while trainers David Russo, Rose Russo, JD Perrin and Angelo Nappo all had two stable members cross the wire first.

Press release:

The Genesee Community College volleyball team hosted some of the top teams in the region during pod play at the GCC Gymnasium Sept. 23.

Three of the teams competing  appear in the current National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association D-III Volleyball Poll and have an impressive collective 31-2 record that include: Erie (10-1), Jamestown (9-0) and Monroe (12-1). Also participating with the Cougars today were Finger Lakes and Niagara County.

The Cougars opened play with two of those top-three teams appearing in the national poll and came away with a set win over No. 9 Erie 25-14. The Cougars just continued the momentum they'd built from the previous set that resulted in a close loss at 25-23 that saw Erie improve to 11-1 on the season with a 3-1 win. Genesee recorded 16 in the first and 18 in its last sets against the Kats.

Genesee then went against the undefeated Jayhawks and Jamestown kept their perfect record intact with three set wins the Cougars coming closest in the first set with 21 points. Jamestown moved to 11-0 with the win and 33-0 in set wins for the season. The Cougars recorded 16 and 15 points, respectively in the final two sets.

In the Cougars' final match of the day, the Cougars finally had an opportunity to play a team not mentioned in the national polls and made the best of it by sweeping Niagara County Community College 3-0.

The Thunderwolves came closest to beating the Cougars in the first set and with the score tied at 23, Sha-Ony Obispa broke the stalemate with a key kill and Lyndsey Rowland sealed the win with a block for set point. The Cougars cruised after that with wins of 25-11 and 25-16 in the final two sets against Niagara.

The Cougars next travel to Erie, Pa. to take on Mercyhurst North East Sept. 28 with a 6 p.m. start. It will be another tough matchup as the Saints snapped No. 9 Erie's 10-0 record last Thursday.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The horses and riders of RUS New York will be at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 23) to compete for a $1,600 purse in a non-betting race that will take place after race seven on the regular live pari-mutuel card.

Racing Under Saddle (RUS), also known as Monte Racing, is a cross between harness racing and thoroughbred racing. The rider is atop the Standardbred (generally a trotter) in a saddle instead of behind it in a sulky. Internationally, Standardbred RUS is conducted daily at many European tracks and it garners large wagering pools on their regular betting programs.

The Fair Series is organized by RUS New York, an organization that helps coordinate and promote under saddle races across the Empire state. The main goal is to promote this unique sport, educate the public about the versatility of the Standardbred breed and to help Standardbreds find great homes after they finish their days on the track.

The 2017 RUS New York summer schedule included 10 fair dates as well as races at Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs and Saratoga Raceway. Batavia Downs is the fourth pari-mutuel track to host the series this year.

RUS racing debuted at the Downs in 2016 with one of the most exciting finishes the series had all year as Admirable Hanover out-dueled My Friend Charlie down the lane to win by a neck in 2:03.4. The time was a new career best under saddle time for Admirable Hanover and it also produced a new track record at Batavia Downs.

Saturday’s race includes the top point-earners in the series for both human and equine categories.

Michelle Miller is the leading rider with 258 points and she will be on the number one points horse, Railroad Lane. 

Railroad Lane has three wins in seven outings and is six out of seven in the money for the year. He has a mark of 2:09.3 at Monticello Raceway over a sloppy track, but was race-timed in 2:05 at Tioga Downs in a third place finish in July.

Last year’s winning rider at Batavia was Vanessa Karlewicz and she is currently the second leading point-getter in the series with 187 and she will be atop Boy Can She Fly who is sixth among all horses. 

Boy Can She Fly has only one win in five starts and a mark of 2:15 at the Bath Fairgrounds. But she was race-timed in 2:05.3 at Vernon Downs in a third place finish back on August 25.

Hillary Harnett who sits fourth in points will ride probably the hottest horse in the race as One True Friend has been competing outside of New York against some of the best RUS horses in competition. 

One True Friend has three wins in eight starts with a seasonal mark of 2:03.3 at Tioga Downs and has also been race timed at the Meadowlands in 2:01.2. Just last week One True Friend won by almost nine-lengths at Saratoga Raceway in 2:04.3.

Rounding out the field is Sophie Engerran and Funny Photo. Funny Photo qualified in 2:04 handily at Vernon Downs on Friday (Aug. 18) but has only one start this year. That was at the Meadowlands earlier this month where he finished fifth, placed fourth after being interfered with. He is the unknown value in this race as he did win under saddle at Vernon Downs in 1:59.1 in 2016 and 1:59 in 2015.

Post time for the RUS New York race will be approximately 8:10 p.m. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m.