Batavia Downs

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Seven industry publicists and handicappers give their selections for the $1.8 million New York Sire Stake Night of Champions finals and the $50,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational pace tonight at Batavia Downs.

Dave Brower-Meadowlands broadcaster, handicapper and oddsmaker

Race 2

7-2-1

Zero Tolerance has been virtually unbeatable in NY so far this year, but could get a nice test from the outer draw. So Awesome has picked up her game of late and might be able to sit a "garden trip" with a big kick at the end.

Race 3

3-7-8

Let's take a shot here with Quincy Blue Chip, who benefited from the post draw over Winndevie! She has beaten that foe a couple of times and I think her inside edge will make the difference, AS long as she trots!

Race 4

7-4-1

Merga Hanover should have no trouble crossing over in here and has been the dominant force on the NYSS circuit so far. I'm not even worried about the outside post. She's simply the best of these.

Race 5

2-3-4

Hypnotic AM hasn't lost yet this year and it's not going to happen tonight, after the very "friendly" draw of post two. This is just a killer in the making, and I hope we get to see her go Grand Circuit in Lexington (Ky.) after this.

Race 6

4-1-5

Dorsoduro Hanover got a nice break after "keeping up" in the McKee on Hambo Day and had the perfect prep for this at Scioto. This is a race he will be "aimed" for and I think he just outclasses these for the Burke Brigade and Matty K.

Race 7

8-1-4

Just to make things interesting, Groovy Joe got stuck behind the eight-ball, but it might not matter. He's beaten pretty much every horse in the field already and he's also proven he can overcome a bad post. Easily best with no American Rebel around.

Race 8

6-7-2

In the night's most wide-open contest, I think Berkery J might have a little speed edge on the outside-drawers. Sears was listed on two in and I hope he took this one. That will put the Ducharme colt over the top!

Race 9

7-2-4

If you want to bet against Gimpanzee, I suggest you go buy a hot dog instead! Post seven won't matter for this super-talented Melander-trained colt and it's on to the Grand Circuit against his stablemates after this.

Race 10

1-4-6

I've really enjoyed watching Hickfromfrenchlick mature this season for the duo of Schnittker and Kakaley. This is a real nice colt, and he's getting better and more mature. The draw puts the race in Matty's capable hands, and I think they will be very tough to catch!

Michael Carter - Social Media and Publicity Directo - USTA

Race 2

2-3-7-1

This race becomes a little more wide open with Zero Tolerance drawing toward the outside. She hasn’t raced from the outside on a half in a while and that is obviously a little concerning. So Awesome has been a consistent filly who has the speed to ration out the fractions.

Race 3

6-3-7-2

Pilgrims Lass added Hopples and seems to be over whatever breaking issues she may have been having. She is one to watch late as she will be coming from off the pace.

Race 4

7-1-4-3

Merga Hanover is going to be a tough beat from out here, the start three back from post six at Batavia is really hard to ignore. I’m not sure that you beat her here.

Race 5

2-3-8-4

This is going to be an interesting race, because the top three horses have only faced each other once a piece and so far its been all about Hypnotic AM. She is a tough filly, who already has proven her Grand Circuit potential.

Race 6

2-7-4-3

My hometown hero, Southwind Amazon, gets a try against Grand Circuit caliber again tonight. He has been able to hold his own against some of the top level horses, look for him to be sneaky good tonight.

Race 7

8-1-5-3

While post eight will be tough to overcome, Groovy Joe has raced from out here before with little to no problems. Not sure you’ll get much of a price on him, but I like his chances.

Race 8

3-5-2-7

This is one of the more competitive Sire Stakes finals of the night and that makes it a fantastic betting race. Hobbs gets some much needed post help, and if he fires like he did two back after a perfect trip, he wins.

Race 9

2-7-5-8

This becomes a whole new race with Gimpanzee drawing the outside, even though he is the obvious class of the race. Lucky Weekend gets Morrill back in the bike and if anyone can win from this spot and take down the champ it’s him.

Race 10

4-1-8-3

Shake That House entered even though he is eligible to the Jug on Thursday, he looks to rebound following a tough effort in the Empire Breeders Championship. He is as versatile as they come. This is a whole new race with American Mercury skipping.

Bob 'Hollywood' Heyden - Handicapper

Race 2

3-7-6

Excellent and one of the more wide open NYSS events, Sulky Queen reunites with Sears and gets the jump on the outside leavers.

Race 3

8-7-3

Get those Pick-4 tickets going and don't be shy about hitting #8 a few times. Remember that sire Credit Winner won the first SIX NYSS finals he was ever in back in 2004-2005!

Race 4

8-7-3

NO-this is not a mirror image-the SAME numbers two races in a row. A very consistent sort Galleria Gal can take advantage of a lot of uncertainty (XTRA Lead changes) and roll by late.

Race 5

2-3-8

Melander and a perfect freshman Hypnotic AM -- I think we've seen this movie before. Division championship will be hers with a win tonight and a Breeders Crown.

Race 6

4-5-6

2018 Jug Runnerup but then the divisional champion Dorsodoro Hanover finds himself in a good spot to get the latter half of his season rolling. This should be a barn burner.

Race 7

8-7-5

Groovy Joe has never been worse than second-including three back when he started from the same post. Lukewarm call for him in a race where you might want to hit the all-button if you've caught something early.

Race 8

7-5-1

Chaptiama has gotten hot at just the right time for Trond Smedshammer. Bred by Winbak Farms, remember they more than doubled any other breeder in the NYSS program in 2018 with better than $1.8 Million and are on the doorstep of their 10,000th winner!

Race 9

7-5-2

Gimpanzee The King should have no issue dispensing these en route to his 15th career win. His stirring Yonkers Trot win was everything it looked like and more.

Race 10

3-1-8

Arties Deal is my upset special for the night. The rail is sure to get way overbet, and the leavers figure to be many. His 2 and 3 YO season look amazingly alike 2/11 at 2 125G; 2/11 at 3 134 G. Good spot to get his REAL season into gear.

Ken Warkentin - Track Announcer - The Meadowlands

Race 2

7-6-3

Zero Tolerance draws a challenging post, yet the undefeated top points-getter in her NYSS division is tough to deny fresh off an easy win @ Batavia.

Race 3

2-8-7

Stella Jane just missed to Sensibility with a perfect trip @ Yonkers, that may have signaled a return to top form & she has the inside advantage on the major players in here.

Race 4

1-7-6

The Fun Marshall was a solid runner up to Merga Hanover last out @ Vernon Downs, a rousing winner @ Saratoga before that & now has rail control to trip out.

Race 5

2-3-8

Hypnotic AM has simply been flawless for the red-hot Team Melander, Grand Circuit caliber filly draws inside where Brian Sears can control her destiny.

Race 6

6-4-7

Hayden Hanover, a 1:47.3 Meadowlands performer this season, regained form in his last two, just missed to Iamarocknrollegend N last out @ Yonkers.

Race 7

3-8-5

Save Me A Dance was a hard-charging second in the Sheppard Final, tuned up with a solid third @ Tioga Downs & draws inside the standout Groovy Joe.

Race 8

4-7-9

Note the 1:54.4 tally @ Vernon Downs on 7-25, rebounded with a close second last out, plenty of potential here & Ake Svanstedt will have him primed for the big money.

Race 9

7-8-4

2018 undefeated Dan Patch Award winner Gimpanzee was a very good third in the Hambletonian Final & crushed in the Yonkers Trot, world-class colt.

Race 10

4-1-3

Shake That House was a decisive upsetter in the Hempt, got torched in the EBC, regrouped & draws well for the rematch with Hickfromfrenchlick.

Gordon Waterstone - Associate Editor - The Horseman And Fair World

Race 2

2-3-7

Zero Tolerance is obviously the one to beat and will be the betting favorite, but So Awesome has a post advantage so let’s take an early stab that she’ll use that to turn the tables and pull the upset.

Race 3

3-8-7

Quincy Blue Chip has only beaten herself this year so as long as she tends to business she will be tough to collar. Winndevie and Sensibility should be moving forward off the gate and if the choice makes a mistake, they’ll be the ones taking advantage.

Race 4

1-7-3

Merga Hanover has been nearly flawless but again the post advantage here goes to The Fun Marshall and that gives her the edge to finally reverse the order.

Race 5

2-3-8

Hypnotic Am comes into the race unbeaten and she will come out of the race unbeaten as she looks head and shoulder above the rest. Seventimesalady is the horse to key underneath for exotics.

Race 6

4-2-3

Dorsoduro Hanover finally gets away from Lather Up and outside posts, and that combination should make the difference and lead to victory. Toss Southwind Amazon’s last start as well as Hitman Hill’s, and you have the rest of the ticket filled.

Race 7

5-8-1

If Groovy Joe had drawn anywhere inside he would have been hard to beat, but post 8 negates his advantage so the edge goes to Cigars And Port, who should get a great trip in here. But don’t overlook Sandy’s Bolt, who has post 1 and comes in off a layoff and heavy backing in his previous attempts.

Race 8

6-8-7

The early speed is all on the outside here and it seems likely Berkery J and Bourbon Express will be the last ones to the front. It will be a battle from there, but don’t overlook Barn Holden or even Chaptiama, who has won two straight.

Race 9

7-5-4

It’s not a question if Gimpanzee wins here, but a question of “by how many lengths?” He’s in his own league here, and among the other starters give Livinonthedash the nod.

Race 10

1-4-3

Hard to imagine a scenario from post 1 that Hickfromfrenchlick won’t have the lead at the first-quarter call, whether he forces the issue or there is some quick give-and-take. Shake That House could be auditioning for a Little Brown Jug appearance here so a big effort is expected.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Keystone Apache was a dominant force in the $10,500 Open II trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Sept. 13) and scored his eighth win of the year in the easiest of fashion.   

Keystone Apache (Billy Davis Jr.) left slowly and made a gradual attack at the lead. He got there by the quarter in :28.4 and from that point on, the race was over. With a two-length gap for the next half mile, Keystone Apache stopped the timer in :57.3 and 1:27.3.

With the plugs having already been pulled before that the station, Keystone Apache extended his lead to four-lengths heading into the final turn and maintained it into the stretch. Davis had little left to do as his horse was off and gone; Keystone Apache jogged across the wire by three lengths in 1:58.2. 

Keystone Apache ($6.40) upped his 2019 income to $62,092 for owners Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Adelphi Bloodstock. Maria Rice trains the winner.  

Several horsemen had multiple wins on Friday. Dave McNeight III and Shawn McDonough led the way with three driving wins apiece while Jim Morrill Jr. and Billy Davis Jr. each had two. Trainer Maria Rice also had two winners. 

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 tonight (Sept. 14) with a first race post time of 6 o'clock.

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 stakes 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-4s (races 3-6 and races 7-10). The pools are part of the United States Trotting Association’s 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 are now available for download from the Daily Racing Form Harness.

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.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

When 64 of the best New York-bred trotters and pacers enter the paddock at Batavia Downs for the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Night of Champions on Saturday (Sept. 14), there will be three horsemen that will have a homecoming of sorts as their careers all got started in Batavia at the oldest lighted harness track in America.

Ray Schnittker from Tonawanda, Steve Pratt from Corfu (inset photo, right), and Chris Oakes from Akron, all mastered the trade they have excelled in so well over the years at Batavia Downs.

Schnittker got his start in 1977 racing horses owned by his father. By the late 1980’s he moved his colors to New York City and found success driving on that major circuit. His rise to prominence in the sport eventually led to his greatest career success of a Hambletonian victory with his Hall of Fame trotter, Deweycheatumnhowe (Muscles Yankee-Trolley Square) 1:50.4 ($3,155,178). 

With his base of operations in Goshen, New York now for many years now, Schnittker has been a regular on the NYSS circuit racing many great 2- and 3-year-olds over that time.

Schnittker’s lifetime stats as a driver show 2,795 wins and $42,809,617 earned and as a trainer 1,266 wins with $39,755,029 in purses. 

This year Schnittker has three starters in the finals. 3-year-old pacing colt Hickfromfrenchlick (So Surreal-My Girl’s A Star) 1:48.4 ($414,427) and 2-year-old pacing colts Splash Brother (So Surreal-Sugarcoated) 1:54.2 ($48,961) and Cigars And Port (So Surreal-Sweet On Art) 1:55.3 ($79,851).

Hickfromfrenchlick has developed into one of the best sophomore pacing colts around. He currently has the sixth fastest win time of the year (1:48.4) for a 3-year-old and is the ninth richest ($275,866) second-year pacing male in North America. He has four NYSS wins this year, but he also won the $238,200 Empire Breeders Classic at Tioga in a lifetime best effort. He comes into the finals on a four-race winning streak and looks extremely tough to beat on Saturday. 

Pratt started in the business in 1970 and had much success racing overnights, and mostly trotters, at Batavia Downs. Although he competed his own stable part-time, he eventually got into racing young horses at the fairs and made the move to the NYSS in the 1990’s. 

Over the last eight years he has been a constant in this series with a string of highly competitive trotters that all had “Barn” in their names that also went on to be accomplished overnight performers as aged horses.  

A very high percentage trainer, Pratt’s career numbers show 236 wins out of only 823 starts and $2,785,646 in earnings; the bulk of which came in the last eight years competing in the NYSS. 

Pratt’s starter in the finals this year is 2-year-old trotting colt Barn Holden (Conway Hall-Barn Babe) 1:55.3 ($126,168) and he’s as solid a performer as any Pratt’s had to date.

Barn Holden is the points (224) and earnings ($126,168) leader in his division and comes into the final with three wins, two seconds and two thirds out of eight starts. His only lifetime start at Batavia was on August 7 when went wire to wire by 8-3/4 lengths in 1:57.1 to set a new track record for 2-year-old trotting colts. 

It’s a short ship from Corfu (where Pratt still lives) to Batavia and Barn Holden will return to the scene of that record Saturday to try and repeat his performance. 

Oakes got his trainer’s license in 1984 and campaigned horses for his father in western New York for several years. He made the move to Pennsylvania and (then) Pocono Downs in 1992 and it was there his career took off. A very winning and high percentage trainer, Oakes has won multiple training titles at his home track the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and his horses have won a plethora of major stakes across North America. 

In his career Oakes has sent 1,875 winners to post and has earned $28,853,311 in purses. 

Oakes has two starters in the NYSS finals this year and both are in the same division. They are 3-year-old pacing colts Shake That House (American Ideal-Shake That Junk) 1:47.4 ($452,804) and Buddy Hill (Roll With Joe-Lessofit Hanover) 1:52 ($141,313). 

Shake That House won two out of three NYSS starts this year but went on a real tear in between. He won his elimination and then the final of the Max C. Hempt Memorial at the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in back to back miles of 1:49 and 1:49.2. Then two weeks after that he scored his lifetime mark of 1:47.4 in his second NYSS win taken at Vernon Downs. That time annihilated the track record for 3-year-old pacing colts and was just one-fifth of a second off the all-time pacing track record there. 

After a two-week rest, Shake That House had a qualifying tightener that he won in 1:53.1 in preparation for this start and comes in fresh for the race. 

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.

Peter Kleinhans will be the tracks 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 are now available for download from the Daily Racing Form Harness. 

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 courtesy of Mark Hall.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Drivers competing in the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 14) will be available trackside for a meet and greet autograph session before the races get underway from 5-5:30 p.m.

They will be set up next to the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle for this event. 

Drivers who will be signing include Hall of Famer Brian Sears, Jason Bartlett, Tyler Buter, Corey Callahan, Matt Kakaley, Jim Morrill Jr. and Scott Zeron. 

"These guys have driven here multiple times this year and have developed quite a following from our fans," said Todd Haight, director/general manager of Racing. 

"We hope they take the opportunity to come down and talk face to face with some of the best drivers currently competing in North America before they hit the track for the biggest night of racing in the history of Western New York."

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

As a result of no one selecting a winning combination in the Pick-5 wager at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Sept. 11), there will be a $1,302 carryover and a $4,000 guaranteed early Pick-5 pool when racing resumes at 6 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 13) at the oldest lighted harness track in America.

Friday’s guaranteed pool is also part of the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program, which offers free program pages courtesy of Trackmaster for the Pick-5 races at Batavia Downs under the “Handicapping” tab at www.ustrotting.com. 

The Pick-5 is a 50-cent base wager that begins in race one and runs through race five. There is no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners, the entire pool (minus takeout) will be carried over once again.

(Photo of Zero Tolerance driver David Miller,​ courtesy of Fotowon.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Zero Tolerance comes into her $225,000 New York Sire Stake (NYSS) Night of Champions final at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 14) with quite a body of work. She is the undefeated top point-getter (250) and highest earning 3-year-old pacing filly in her division ($177,500) and is currently the fourth richest filly in North America overall this year with $382,423 on her card. 

She is a naturally talented filly that has been developed and managed masterfully by her Hall of Fame connections of driver David Miller and trainer Joe Holloway. 

Zero Tolerance was a first crop daughter of Heston Blue Chip and was a $30,000 yearling purchase at the Lexington Select Sale in 2017 and it’s no surprise why her trainer Joe Holloway decided to buy her based on a couple successful fillies he had previously raced. 

“I selected her for her maternal side. I had Somwherovrarainbow and Rainbow Room and they were both out of Rainbow Blue and I had good success with both them. And this filly is out of a sister to Rainbow Blue named Feelinglikeastar,” said Holloway. 

Zero Tolerance started her 2-year-old campaign strong with a win at the Meadowlands in 1:51.3. Her first NYSS race was the following week where she finished second by a neck after cutting the mile. 

After being sick and having three weeks off, she returned to the track and rattled off five consecutive wins including the Geers and Reynolds stakes at Tioga Downs and NYSS legs at Vernon Downs and Monticello Raceway. 

She did not race in the NYSS final, rather closed out the year with an aggressive Grand Circuit schedule where she won the Bluegrass at the Red Mile before finishing second in the Breeders Crown at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and the Three Diamonds at the Meadowlands. 

This year, Zero Tolerance came out of the gate and won her first three NYSS races by a combined 16-3/4 lengths. She hit the Grand Circuit again for two starts finishing second in the James Lynch Memorial at Pocono in 1:49.3 and fourth in the Mistletoe Shalee at the Meadowlands. She returned to New York and won the Empire Breeders Classic at Tioga in a lifetime best of 1:50.2 and two more NYSS races at Saratoga and Batavia to go five for five in the series.  

“She’s been good in the NYSS this year so far," Holloway said. "Each time she has raced she’s performed for us and that was the plan. When she looked like she was dominant, I was going to go to the Jugette.

"But where it’s New York, and it’s such good money, basically close to the same money as the Jugette after you’ve got to go heats, we decided to race here instead."

In that last start at Batavia, Zero Tolerance got away third to the half before pulling with cover up the backstretch and simply paced away from the field with no urging down the lane to win easily in 1:54.2.

There has been almost three weeks between starts for Zero Tolerance but her routine didn’t change that much. 

“As far as the time off, I usually don’t train her too much anyway," Holloway said. "So I trained her real hard a week out and I trained her lightly on Wednesday (Sept. 11). The seven hole doesn’t help us in the final but she’ll be alright."

“Overall she’s a nice filly although she gets a little bit high strung now and then. But a lot of my better fillies have been that way. Probably the biggest thing she does this year is she’s bad in the winner’s circle. She kicks and I don’t want her hurting herself so we haven’t been in the winner’s circle too long when she gets there.”

The NYSS final will not be the last race of the year for Zero Tolerance. Holloway indicated that she would be going to Lexington for two weeks before the Breeders Crown and the Matron. 

Zero Tolerance comes into the NYSS finals as one of the richest participants this year with $868,236 made lifetime and she will be looking to substantially add to that total on Saturday night.  

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.

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 today. 

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: Blue Bell Bonnie with driver Jim Morrill Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Blue Bell Bonnie has been one of the toughest mares competing at Batavia Downs this season. Coming off three wins in her last four starts and moving up in class, the mare went right to the front and never looked back in the $12,500 Open I Handicap pace for distaff participants at the Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 11). 

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. sent Blue Bell Bonnie to the front and proceeded unchallenged to the half in relatively mild :57.4. With the field still in single file as they headed into the third turn, HP Sissy (John Cummings Jr.) finally pulled first-over past the five-eighths and made a bull rush toward the leader, drawing alongside her in the backstretch. 

The two matched strides to the three-quarters and into the final bend before Blue Bell Bonnie found a new gear and started to pull away. With a clear one-length lead, Morrill urged Blue Bell Bonnie down the lane and she responded to win by a length in 1:54 over a fast closing Little Joke (BIlly Davis Jr.).

It was the eighth win of the year for Blue Bell Bonnie ($4.70) and it pushed her earnings to $52,798 for owners Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. James Clouser Jr. trains the 7-year-old daughter of Mister Big-The Girl Can Bet. 

In the $11,000 Open II fillies and mares pace, Mean Pauline (Shawn McDonough) got a perfect pocket trip behind Machin Marley (Jim Morrill Jr.) before popping the deuce at the top of the stretch and wrestling away the lead at the wire to win by a head in 1:57.

Now with four wins on the year and earnings of $30,756, Mean Pauline ($21.20) has already surpassed her efforts of last year for owner Harry Wortzman. Her driver Shawn McDonough also trains the winner.   

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. had a driving triple on the card to lead all reinsmen. 

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 13) at 6 p.m. there will be a guaranteed carryover pool of $4,000 for the Pick-5 wager. This will be part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages will be available for races one through five on the USTA’s website.

Above, Groovy Joe, the top 2-year-old pacing colt heading into Saturday's  $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Night of Champions at Batavia Downs. 

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs:

The top 2-year-old pacing colt heading into the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Night of Champions at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 14) proves you don’t have to be rich to be successful in harness racing if you do your homework. 

Groovy Joe (Roll With Joe -- Chotat Milk) p,2,1:52f ($174,595) was a $17,000 purchase at the 2018 Goshen Yearling Sale and has turned out to be quite a find. With the bulk of his 2-year-old campaign completed, he currently sits atop the NYSS standings for points (337) and earnings ($155,270) for his age, gender and gait, has seven wins in nine starts with two seconds overall and started it all off with a five-race winning streak. 

His body of work ranks beyond the state border too. Groovy Joe is currently one of the sports best first-year performers sitting third in earnings among all 2-year-old male pacers in North America and has paced the 10th-fastest mile of all freshman pacers after his recent career-best outing of 1:52 at Tioga Downs.

Blake Macintosh trains Groovy Joe and co-owns with the Hutt Racing Stable. Macintosh is the one who picked out the colt and knew all along that he’d be a good one. 

“I liked him when I saw him," Macintosh said. "He was well built, well bred and was my pick of the sale. And he turned out to be everything I thought he would. He broke easily and trained down well and he’s become very smart and professional with his work.”

The colt’s first five races, all of which were wins, came over half mile tracks. Macintosh stated he seemed to thrive there and progressed sharply through those starts.  

“He’s not a big horse and he gets around a half-mile track perfectly," Macintosh said. "You could see him get stronger with each of those wins and he came home faster each week as he went along. The race at Buffalo was what really impressed me; when he flew home in a :57.2 back-half."

Groovy Joe has continued to improve and show his maturity after just winning back to back starts at Tioga in 1:52.4 and 1:52 flat. 

Macintosh is no stranger to success on the NYSS circuit and used the series to educate and develop his millionaire star Courtly Choice (Art Major -- Lady Ashlee Ann) p, 3, 1:47.1m ($1,285,054). 

Courtly Choice won two races in the NYSS at two in 2017 but did not compete in the final. However he came back at three and won all his races in the state series, but he also won the Meadowlands Pace and the Empire Breeders Classic. He still did not race in the NYSS final in 2018 but that was because he was busy winning the Little Brown Jug that week instead. 

Are major stakes in the future for Groovy Joe? His trainer thinks so. 

“Besides racing in the NYSS, we are going to pay him into several Grand Circuit events next year and point him towards the North American Cup," Macintosh said. "I was very excited to win the Jug but I’d love to win the Cup. It’s at my home track and in my own backyard."

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 today (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.

(Photo courtesy of Paul White.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

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.