harness racing

The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association has announced the horses who will be honored for their performances at Batavia Downs during the 2022 racing season. These horses who have competed at the Downs all season, will each be honored with a trophy in the winner’s circle between races during “The Day of Distinction” that will be held on Saturday, December 17.  Post time for the first race is 3 p.m.

Pacer of the Meet: Stranger Things (Western Terror-Southwind Prairie) 18-8-3-2 - $71,300 - 1:53.2 at Batavia Downs
Owner: Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel and James Reuther
Trainer: Angelo Nappo

Stranger Things was the winningest horse of the meet and top money earner-- regardless of age, gait or gender --- amassing a total of eight victories and $71,300 in purses while facing Open class company each week. Overall in 2022, Stranger Things has had 31 starts with 12 wins, six seconds and two thirds with $103,945 in earnings and put an exclamation mark on his career year with a new lifetime mark of 1:53.2 at Batavia on October 22.  

Trotter of the Meet: C R Blazin Beauty (Crazed-Melrose Abbey) 18-6-2-2 - $51,880 - 1:57 at Batavia Downs
Owner: Marissa Russo
Trainer: David Russo

CR Blazin Beauty is another horse boasting a career year and who was also the winningest trotter of the meet, scoring six wins including four in the Open and this was no small task being a mare racing against the boys every week. The 8-year-old also scored a landmark win at Batavia on December 3 when she achieved the 50th victory of her career. For the year, CR Blazin Beauty has 37 starts with 10 wins, nine seconds and four thirds with $105,384 in the bank.

Mare of the Meet: Saulsbrook Olympia (Big Jim-Racino Star) 16-5-2-2 - $50,530 - 1:53.4 at Batavia Downs
Owner: William McNeil and Edward Gorc
Trainer: Jennifer Giuliani

For the first year competing as an aged mare, Saulsbrook Olympia excelled in her new classification. The 4-year-old took an impressive 1:50.3 lifetime mark at Woodbine Mohawk Park prior to arriving at Batavia. Since the start of the Batavia meet, Saulsbrook Olympia garnered five wins and the highest earnings by a pacing mare ($50,530) while facing the best resident and best ship-in talent from all over the state. Her overall numbers for 2022 show 33 starts, 10 wins, two seconds and six thirds with $85,226 in purses earned.

Please note that post time for Saturday was moved to 3 p.m. to avoid conflict with the flexed Buffalo Bills versus Miami Dolphins game later that night. The clubhouse will open their doors at 2:30 p.m. and will offer a prime rib and shrimp buffet that will be served from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Railbar will be open from 2:30 p.m. until the end of the last race, which will be approximately 7 p.m., however it will not remain open for the Bills game.

There may be an early Christmas present for some lucky player at Batavia Saturday. A Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta carryover that has been growing for weeks has reached $10,733.58 and with the meet ending, a mandatory payout will happen Saturday. So Batavia Downs has guaranteed the pool at $15,000 through the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program for that pentafecta wager in race 13. 
Free program pages are available on the USTA website for that race under the “Handicapping” tab and free full past performance race programs for the entire card can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab. If you can’t attend the races live, you can still watch all the action on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.

There were six mares in the $14,000 Distaff Open I Handicap at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Dec. 14) but it turned into a match race that saw Shallow out-duel Demeter N to claim her 12th win of the year. 

Jim Morrill Jr. put Shallow on the lead but Larry Stalbaum had Demeter N revved up in the breeze and they drew alongside the leader at the quarter in :28.4 and from there, the pair that had been splitting starts between Saratoga and Batavia got into it. With no hole to be had and the front unattainable, Demeter N continued to dig on the rim past the half in :57.3, around turn three and then up the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:27.2. 

Shallow was under urging from Morrill and Stalbaum was rocking in Demeter N’s bike as they rounded the last bend only one-half length apart. Heading into the lane there was no quit in Demeter N, who continued to gain ground on Shallow who started to look vulnerable. As the gap shortened along with the stretch, it appeared Demeter N could reach. But Shallow had enough left to close out the deal and won by a neck in 1:57 in a real thriller. 

With the win, Shallow ($3.40) eclipsed the century mark in earnings, now boasting $104,236 for owner Room4040 LLC Stables and trainer Andy Gardiner. 

In the $10,000 conditioned event for fillies and mares, Candy’s Desire (Kyle Cummings) caught a perfect trip behind Saulsbrook Olympia (Dave McNeight III) into the stretch and then shook loose to catch Lyons Anita (Kevin Cummings) at the light to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:57. Owned by her driver Kyle Cumming along with Alyssa Cummings, the Tammy Cummings trained Candy’s Desire returned $6.40. 

Kevin Cummings and Jim Morrill Jr. each had driving hat tricks as trainer Shawn McDonough also won three on the conditioning side.

Batavia Downs wraps up the 2022 meet on Saturday (Dec. 17) at 3 p.m. and there is another carryover available. The Jackpot Hi-5 Pentafecta in the 13th race will start with $10,733 in the pool and as it is the last night of racing for 2022, there will be a force out and the pool has been guaranteed at $15,000 through the USTA Strategic Wagering Program.

The clubhouse will open the doors at 2:30 p.m. and will offer a prime rib and shrimp buffet that will be served from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Railbar will be open at 2:30 p.m. until the end of the last race, which will be approximately 7 p.m., however it will not remain open for the Bills game.

The final day of racing will also host the “Day of Distinction” year-end awards, which will be presented by the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs to honor all the human and equine stars of the 2022 meeting.

Photo by Wendy J. Lowery.

With the 2022 meet coming to a close, the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs will honor the top performing driver and trainer in the winner’s circle on closing day, Saturday, December 17. However, this year is a little different because accolades will be going to two drivers for their achievements, where the training title has yet to be decided.

After a ferocious meet-long “two-horse race" between Kevin Cummings and Jim Morrill Jr. that saw the third-place driver end up over 75 wins behind both, the dash driving title and trophy goes to Kevin Cummings, who at the end of Wednesday night’s card had 149 wins to Morrill’s 136.

To date, Cummings’ numbers for the meet show 526 starts with 146 wins, 104 seconds and 72 thirds with earnings of $1,024,864 and a UDR. of .439. Cummings has won the dash title at Batavia four times before and finished second to Morrill last year.

Cummings' body of work for all of 2022 saw him start 943 times with 217 wins, 175 seconds and 129 thirds with $1,670,595 in earnings and a UDR of .379. Those overall numbers reflect his second-highest one-year earnings total, his most wins since 2015 and his highest UDR since 2003.

Morrill’s numbers are just as gaudy. At Batavia, he had 455 starts with 136 wins, 100 seconds and 62 thirds with $1,115,951 in purses and a UDR of .466. Morrill has won this title the last two years and four times overall.

Altogether this year, Morrill had 916 starts with 246 wins, 199 seconds and 126 thirds with $2,412,882 in earnings and a UDR of .435. That UDR rating has him sitting in second place among all drivers in North America for percentage performance.

Another defining accomplishment that Cummings and Morrill had in common this year is that they both went over the $1 million mark in earnings at Batavia Downs and that’s the first time that any driver has surpassed that milestone since the track opened in 1940. As a result, a special plaque presentation commemorating that historic event will be made to both.

The training title is still up for grabs between Jennifer Giuliani and Shawn McDonough and will go down to the final night of action.  After Wednesday’s card McDonough has 52 wins and Giuliani has 50. And both have a busy day on Saturday with Giuliani entering seven horses and McDonough starting five, so the winner will be determined at some point during that card.

So far, McDonough’s Batavia tally shows 271 starts with 52 wins, 39 seconds and 40 thirds that banked $383,444 and provided him a UTR of .321. His 2022 overall totals for 2022 showed 108 wins and $819,482 earned, both of which were career highs for McDonough by a wide margin. McDonough won the driving title at Batavia in 2013 but has never won a training title, although he did finish second at Batavia in 2020.

To this point in the meet Giuliani has 247 starts with 50 wins, 49 seconds and 30 thirds with earnings of $416,298 and a UTR of .353. For the year she has 86 wins and $701,122 in purses, both of which are career highs for the fourth-year conditioner. Giuliani won her first training title at Batavia last year.

Please note that post time for Saturday was moved to 3 p.m. to avoid conflict with the flexed Buffalo Bills versus Miami Dolphins game later that night.

There may be an early Christmas present for some lucky player at Batavia Saturday. A Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta carryover that has been growing for weeks has reached $10,733.58 and with the meet ending, a mandatory payout will happen Saturday. So Batavia Downs has guaranteed the pool at $15,000 through the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program for that pentafecta wager in race 13.

Free program pages will be available on the USTA website for that race and free full past performance race programs for the entire card can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab. If you can’t attend the races live, you can still watch all the action on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.

The clubhouse will open their doors at 2:30 p.m. and will offer a prime rib and shrimp buffet that will be served from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Railbar will be open from 2:30 p.m. until the end of the last race, which will be approximately 7 p.m., however it will not remain open for the Bills game.

Photos by Wendy Lowery. Top photo, Kevin Cummings. Bottom photo, Jim Morrill.

Closing day at Batavia Downs is this Saturday (Dec. 17) and an early Christmas present may be waiting there for some lucky player. A Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta carryover that has been growing for weeks has reached $10,733.58 and with the meet coming to a close, a mandatory payout will happen Saturday. So Batavia Downs will be offering a guaranteed $15,000 pool through the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program for that pentafecta wager in race 13. 

Please note that post time for Saturday was moved to 3 p.m. to avoid conflict with the flexed Buffalo Bills versus Miami Dolphins game later that night.  

Free program pages will be available on the USTA website for that race and free full past performance race programs for the entire card can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab. If you can’t attend the races live, you can still watch all the action on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.

The clubhouse will open its doors at 2:30 p.m. and will offer a prime rib and shrimp buffet that will be served from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Railbar will be open at 2:30 p.m. until the end of the last race, which will be approximately 7 p.m. however it will not remain open for the Bills game.

The final day of racing will also host the “Day of Distinction” year-end awards, which will be presented by the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs to honor all the human and equine stars of the 2022 meeting.

The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs will honor three 14-year-old veteran race horses who will officially retire on January 1, 2023. These horses have competed at the Downs this season and will be presented with a trophy commemorating their outstanding careers in the winner’s circle between races during “The Day of Distinction” that will be held on Saturday, December 17.  Post time for the first race is 3 p.m.

Two pacers and one trotter have finished their careers at Batavia and will hang up their harness for the final time.

Freaky Flyer (Dontgetinmyway-The Nanny) 458-63-68-66 - 1:53.2 - $374,773

Although Freaky Flyer has been a fixture at Batavia Downs for the last nine years, he has raced his heart out at tracks from New York to Florida ever since his 2-year-old campaign without ever missing a year of action. “The Freak” as he is known, averaged 35 starts per year his entire career and had his best season since 2018 this year, winning a total of 10 races, four of which were at Batavia. After registering his fourth highest annual earnings total in 2022 ($40,418), he has left the building and entered his “forever home” with his new owners in Avon, New York where he’s being spoiled with his favorite treat: bananas. Trainer Rose Russo owned and raced Freaky Flyer prior to his retirement.

Bettor’s Reward (Bettors Delight-Romancing The Sea) 267-43-30-32 - 1:51.3 - $453,380

Bettor’s Reward made his very first pari-mutuel start at Batavia Downs on September 28, 2010 and got his first lifetime pari-mutuel victory there two weeks later, winning a maiden race in 2:03.1. After having success in the New York Sire Stakes at three, Bettor’s Reward went on to become a hard-knocking Open class aged pacer in Canada and on the New York/New Jersey circuit. For two years he faced the likes of Golden Receiver, Escape The News, Up The Credit, Statesman N, Hypnotic Blue Chip, Aracache Hanover and Western Shore. Unfortunately he suffered from soundness issues from 2014 to 2018 and only made 14 starts during that time. But he came back strong in 2019 and raced 147 starts his final four years and closed out his career with six wins in 2022, his last coming at Batavia on October 8. Bettor’s Reward is owned by Fortunate One LLC.

Parkhill Horton (Oaklea Julian-Guardian Image) 321-36-40-54 - 1:54.2 - $198,454

He was never a star or stakes winner, but Parkhill Horton came to work every week for 13 years and earned his way to a well deserved retirement. He’s a horse that liked to leave and often found himself on the front, trotting his best with the lead. His lifetime mark of 1:54.2 was taken at Vernon Downs in 2016, but his win in 1:58 at Batavia this year was his fastest since 2017. And his $27,508 in earnings this year was also his second best one year bank deposit of his life. His final start at Batavia will be on Wednesday (Dec. 14). Parkhill Horton is owned and trained by Rachelle Mungillo. 

Post Time for the final card of racing on Saturday (Dec.17) was moved from 6 p.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate fans of both harness racing and the Buffalo Bills after the game between them and the Miami Dolphins was flexed to Saturday night at 8:15 p.m. The clubhouse will open their doors at 2:30 p.m. and will offer a prime rib and shrimp buffet that will be served from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Railbar will be open from 2:30 p.m. until the end of the last race, which will be approximately 7 p.m., however it will not remain open for the Bills game. 

Ron Beback Jr. will be presented with the Good Samaritan Award by the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs for his heroic actions to save an overturned kayaker from drowning this past summer. The ceremony will take place in the winner’s circle between races during “The Day of Distinction” that will be held on Saturday, December 17.  Post time for the first race is 3 p.m.

The incident occurred when Beback was out fishing on August 31 at Horseshoe Lake at the De Witt Recreation area in Batavia, New York. As he was taking his fishing gear to the water, he was approached by a man who was yelling, “She fell out of the kayak!” The man’s friend was an older woman who was unfamiliar with the currents in the lake on a windy day, tipped over and was unable to get back upright.

Beback dashed to his truck to get his kayak, paddled out to the middle of the lake and was able to get the woman back in her kayak before dragging her to the center island where they waited for authorities to come in a boat and get her back to shore. The event was well documented in the local news and Beback was greeted as a hero when he arrived to race at Batavia Downs that night.

Ever humble, Beback didn’t want any notoriety for his heroics and simply said in an interview, “I’m just glad I ended up there that day and was able to help.”

Beback’s actions were representative of the caring and helpful nature harness racing horsemen and women are known for and as such, not only helped bring someone in dire straits to safety, but also put the sport in a very positive light nationally. And UNY-USHWA and Batavia Downs are pleased to present him with this award.

Post Time for the final card of racing on Saturday (Dec.17) was moved from 6 p.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate fans of both harness racing and the Buffalo Bills after the game between them and the Miami Dolphins was flexed to Saturday night at 8:15 p.m. The clubhouse will open their doors at 2:30 p.m. and will offer a prime rib and shrimp buffet that will be served from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Railbar will be open from 2:30 p.m. until the end of the last race, which will be approximately 7 p.m., however it will not remain open for the Bills game.

A clear night and a very fast racing surface produced outstanding miles and some huge payoffs at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Dec. 10) and those performances were led by CR Blazin Beauty (Kevin Cummings) who tracked fast fractions early and went from worst to first while capturing the $14,000 Open I Handicap trotting co-feature at 25-1 in a real thriller. 

Buzz (Mike Baumeister) took the field to the quarter in :28.2 while Wilberforce (Christian Myers) sat outside of Captain Krupnick (Jim McNeight Jr.) as the pair chased the leader to the half in :57.4. Just past that station the field was four in and four out, with CR Blazin Beauty still sitting last on the pylons. 

As Wilberforce faded up the backstretch, Con Air Hall (Dave McNeight III) moved three-wide into contention heading through the last turn while Cummings found room at the pegs and advanced CR Blazin Beauty into fifth by the head of the stretch. As they barreled into the straight, Con Air Hall was even with Sass, CR Blazin Beauty found the middle of the track and continued to gain ground while Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) came out of nowhere and was flying home four wide. In deep stretch four trotters fanned even across the track, but CR Blazin Beauty broke through from the rest and grabbed a neck advantage at the light and won in 1:58. 

It was the tenth win of the year and 51st lifetime for CR Blazin Beauty, ($52.50) and it pushed her bankroll to $105,384 this year for owner Marissa Russo. David Russo trains the winner. 

Cummings' win with CR Blazin Beauty was only one of five he scored on the card. He also visited the Purple Haze winners enclosure with American General (1:57.4, $16.80), Thor De Vie (1:55.4, $6.80), Gemini Eddie (1:58, $3.00) and Paprike Blue Chip (1:56.3, $7.20). Cummings is now 13 wins ahead of Jim Morrill Jr. for the dash driving title for this meet with only two days of racing left. 

The $14,000 Open I Handicap pace wasn’t nearly as action-packed as the trot, but Stranger Things (Jim Morrill Jr.) put on quite a show of his own en route to his 12th win of 2022.

After the heavy post-time favorite The Longest Yard (Kevin Cummings) made a break in the first turn, Morrill tucked second with with Stranger Things behind Pocket Watch N (Ray Fisher Jr.) but once settled, came back out and took the lead at the quarter in :28 and from there never looked back. He got to the half in :57.4 and three-quarters in 1:26.4 with a comfortable 1-½ length lead and no one close enough to challenge. By the time he hit the top of the stretch he extended that gap to five lengths and just cruised home to win in 1:55.2 while Morrill sat chilly. 

It was the second win in a row for Stranger Things ($7.60) who also cracked the “hundred-grand” mark, now boasting $103,945 in earnings for owners Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel and James Reuther. It was one of two winners for conditioner Angelo Nappo on Saturday. 
With only two days left in the meet, live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Dec. 14) at 6 p.m. and there is another carryover available. The Jackpot Hi-5 Pentafecta in the 11th race will start with $8,306 in the pool. 

Also please note that post time for the final night of racing, Saturday, Dec. 17, has been changed from 6 p.m. to 3 p.m. This was done after the National Football League “flexed” the Week 15 game between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins to 8:15 p.m. that same day.

The clubhouse will open the doors at 2:30 p.m. and will offer a prime rib and shrimp buffet that will be served from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Railbar will be open at 2:30 p.m. until the end of the last race, which will be approximately 7 p.m., however it will not remain open for the Bills game.

The final day of racing will also host the “Night of Distinction” year-end awards, which will be presented by the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs to honor all the human and equine stars of the 2022 meeting.

Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab and then you can watch all the races live on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.

Photo by Wendy J. Lowery.

Press release:

New Zealand ex-pat Demeter N made her second start at Batavia Downs a winning one after upsetting in the $14,000 Open I Handicap for pacing fillies and mares on Wednesday night (Dec. 7). 

Demeter N (Larry Stalbaum) got away last as Shallow (Ray Fisher Jr.) fought hard off the gate with So Amazing (Kevin Cummings) before claiming the lead at the quarter in :28.1. But as soon as she cleared, Cummings came right back with So Amazing to retake and led the field from there. As the group passed three-eighths, Demeter N was out and rolling with Stalbaum, bouncing in the bike with every stride. 

Demeter N drew near So Amazing at three-quarters, but So Amazing responded and held Demeter N at bay around the final turn. When they straightened out for home, Cummings and Stalbaum were both rocking and knocking as the mares paced dead even all the way down the lane. Three pylons from the line, Demeter N got a slight advantage and ended up winning by a one-quarter length in 1:56.3. 

Demeter N ($17.40) reached $131,499 in earnings this year on the strength of her seven wins for owner Shark Racing and trainer Larry Stalbaum. 

In the secondary featured $10,000 conditioned distaff pace, Faithful Desire (Jim Morrill Jr.) scored her third consecutive victory in a gate-to-wire romp timed in 1:56.1. Faithful Desire returned $2.90 for owner Eva Saintcross and trainer Shawn McDonough. 

The Downs leading dash driver Kevin Cummings continued to add to his numbers after he won five more races on Wednesday. He scored with Amora Beach (1:57.3, $2.60), Sudden Change N (1:59, $7.00), Lyons Anita (1:55.4, $5.40), Delightful Summer (1:57, $5.30) and Ellieonthemove (1:58, $7.90). Cummings extended the gap between himself and second-place Jim Morrill Jr. to nine wins (141-132) as Morrill had a hat trick himself this night. 

McDonough also had a big outing at the track as he scored a training grand slam on the card. McDonough trainees getting their pictures taken included the aforementioned Faithful Desire, Amora Beach and Delightful Summer, along with Lucky Town (1:57, $6.30). McDonough also added one catch-driving win behind Bacardi (1:59.2, $23.00) to give him five total wins during the night. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Dec. 10) at 6 p.m., and there is another carryover available. The Jackpot Hi-5 Pentafecta in the 13th race will start with $7,351 in the pool. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab, and then you watch all the races live on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.

Photo by Wendy J. Lowery

Kevin Cummings has been Batavia Downs leading dash driver for most of the meet and his piloting prowess was on full display Saturday night (Dec. 3) when he won seven of the 13 races on the program, including both co-featured races. 

In the $14,000 Open I trot Cummings sat second with CR Blazin Beauty behind Captain Krupnik (Jim Morrill Jr.) from the start until the top of the stretch as Con Air Hall (Dave McNeight III) applied pressure to the leader for the last half of the mile. Then in the straight, CR Blazin Beauty shook loose and took the lead before holding off a late rush from Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) at the wire to win by one-quarter length in 1:58.1.

It was the 50th career win for CR Blazin Beauty ($8.40) who is owned by Marissa Russo and trained by Dave Russo. 

The following race was the $14,000 Open I Handicap pace and Cummings went the distance with Stranger Things. 

It took a little effort to get there, but after being parked to the quarter in :27.4, Stranger Things grabbed the lead from Mississippi Rabbit (Jim Morrill Jr.) and settled in for the ride. He hit the half in :57.2 and passed three-quarters in 1:25.4 on top by 2-½ lengths. Then coming into the stretch, Mississippi Rabbit came off the pegs and roared towards the leader. He made up ground but not enough as Stranger Things hung tough and won by a length in 1:55. 

Stranger Things ($8.80) collected his 11th win of the year for owners Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel and James Reuther. Angelo Nappo trains the winner. 

Cummings completed his lucky seven with wins behind Raylen Givens (1:59.3, $2.90), Cellular (2:01.4, $5.70), Thor De Vie (1:59, $6.20), The Longest Yard (1:54.1, $2.20) and Beachboydesire (1:58.2, $3.70). He also had two seconds and a third from his 13 drives that gave him a sparkling .650 UDR for the night.

Cummings also put some space between himself and Jim Morrill Jr. who sat second behind him in the standings at the start of the night by only two wins. Now Cummings has extended his lead to seven over Morrill (136 to 129) who had two wins of his own on Saturday. 

Trainer Jim Rothfuss scored a double to lead all conditioners for the night. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Dec. 7) at 6 p.m. and there is another carryover available. The Jackpot Hi-5 Pentafecta in the 13th race will start with $6,473 in the pool. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab and then you watch all the races live on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.

Photo by Wendy J. Lowery.

Press release:

A pair of $14,000 Open I Handicap races were up for grabs on Saturday night (Nov. 26) at Batavia Downs and Jim Morrill Jr. was more than happy to take the top prize in each after he airmailed both of his mounts to impressive victories. 

In the trotting feature, Morrill launched Credit List from post eight and battled on the outside with Jumpinthejailhouse (Kevin Cummings) to the quarter in :28.3 before crossing over to the pylons at the three-eighths pole. Morrill then slowed the tempo to three-quarters forcing Captain Krupnik (Drew Monti) to come first over from third and get to within a length of the leader heading into the last turn. Credit List and Captain Krupnik broke away from the field and faced off heading for home. Captain Krupnik closed with every stride but couldn’t get to Credit List, who hung on to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.4.

It was the third straight win for Credit List ($8.00) and eighth of the year, pushing his earnings to $80,471 in 2022 for Room4040 LLC Stable and trainer Kevin Reynolds Jr. 

Then in the next race, Morrill shooed home Prairie Panther in the top pacing event after being parked out every step of the mile. Prairie Panther made his way to second on the outside of Brave World (Denny Bucceri) at the :28 quarter but Brave World would not let Prairie Panther take the front. The two 8-year-old geldings then went toe-to-toe to the half in :57 and three-quarters in 1:25.3 before heading into the last turn, still in the heat of battle.

Stranger Things (Kevin Cummings) was now on Prairie Panther’s back and he was poised to pounce in the lane. When they hit the top of the stretch, Prairie Panther put away Brave World but Stranger Things was now outside of him and coming hard. But somehow, some way, Prairie Panther dug deep and had something left in the tank to hold off Stranger Things at the line to win by a neck in 1:55.3. 

It was the 15th win of the year and 62nd of his career for Prairie Panther ($2.50) who is owned by his trainer Michael Deters, in partnership with Joel Warner.

Morrill ended the night with three wins.  

Driver Drew Monti had a huge night at Batavia on Saturday, winning five races during the card including scoring a natural hat trick in races 11, 12 and 13. He won with Make Some Waves (1:56, $7.40), A Game Changer (1:56.2, $22.40), Johnny Chip (1:56.2, $23.80), Ey Cowboy (1:57.1, $5.00) and Windemere Ryan (1:57.4, $4.10). He also had two seconds and two thirds that when combined, gave him a .521 UDR for the evening. Three of Monti’s five wins (Make Some Waves, Ey Cowboy and Windemere Ryan) were trained by Joe Skowyra. 

Two other horsemen who teamed up for a natural hat trick were driver Kevin Cummings and trainer Sammy Smith who combined to win the third, fourth and fifth races with Speed It (1:59, $6.10), Gemini Eddie (2:00.1, $19.40) and The Longest Yard (1:54.3, $2.40).

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 30) at 6 p.m. and there is another carryover available. The Jackpot Hi-5 Pentafecta in the 13th race will start with $5,262 in the pool. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab and then you watch all the races live on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.

Photo by Wendy J. Lowery.

It was ladies' night for Jim Morrill Jr. at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 16) as he swept the girls off their feet in the top two paces for fillies and mares that highlighted the evening of racing at the Genesee County track that operated under “snowglobe” conditions. 

First, he took the $14,000 Open I Handicap with The Stunning Nun N ($3.40) who waited until late to scoop the loot. 

Miley Rose (Drew Monti) struck the point and led the field through quarters of :28.3 and :57.3 before heading up the backside on the second circuit. It was there an outer flow formed with Tuapeka Jessie N (John Macdonald), Shecouldbegood N (Keith Kash) and The Stunning Nun N all advancing in the breeze. Halfway through the last turn, Shecouldbegood N tipped three deep and at the top of the stretch, The Stunning Nun N swept four wide into the straight. Then under a line drive by Morrill, The Stunning Nun N made up her 2-½ length deficit and then pulled ahead by two at the light and won in 1:56.2 over the “good’ rated track. 

With four board hits at Batavia since visiting, it was the second win during that time for The Stunning Nun N who is owned by her trainer Michael Deters in partnership with Joel Warner, John Manning and Barbara Jensen. 

Morrill also won the $13,000 Open II Handicap with JB’s Star Dancer ($4.40) who cut the mile under heavy pressure the second half. 

JB’s Star Dancer was put on the lead and then Morrill throttled down the pace to a meager :59.4 half. That prompted Protect Blue Chip (John Macdonald) to pull first-up and match strides with the leader up the backside to three-quarters and then around the final turn. At the top of the stretch horses were coming from everywhere and spread five wide across the track. But Morrill sat chilly as JB’s Star Dancer held them all off to the end and won by one-half length in 1:57.4. 

It was the third straight win for JB’s Star Dancer, her owner Mike Torcello and her trainer Sammy Smith, who both had two winners on Wednesday. 

Morrill ended the night with a total of four wins himself as he added Culinary Artist (1:58.3, $8.00) and Explosive Leggs (1:59.3, $6.50) to his record. 

Trainer Shawn McDonough and driver Kevin Cummings each got a hat trick during the night.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Nov. 19) at 6 p.m. and there is another carryover available. The Jackpot Hi-5 Pentafecta in the 13th race will start with $4,432 in the pool. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab and then you watch all the races live on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.

Photo by Wendy J. Lowery

Success came in bunches for four horsemen and one horsewoman at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Nov. 9) as the five involved accounted for a total of 12 driving and 6 training wins during the card. 

The driving colony was once again bested by Jim Morrill Jr. who claimed a quintuple in the sulky, including winning one of the featured $10,000 conditioned distaff paces with Jb’s Star Dancer.

Morrill left from post eight, dropped in behind Filly Speaks (Drew Monti) and then drafted there until the stretch where he took the lead and claimed a one length upset victory in 1:57. Jb’s Star Dancer ($28.00) is owned by Mike Torcello, trained by Sammy Smith and was one of three wins for Smith on Wednesday.

Morrill completed his big day winning behind Explosive Leggs (2:00.4, $3.00), Racksmach N (1:57.2, $2.40), Greystonefastmyles (1:57.4, $6.10) and Party Shaker (1:57.1, $2.60). 

Next came Kevin Cummings who had a four-bagger at the lines behind Ellieonthemove (1:56.4, $13.00), China Dream (1:57.3, $4.60), My Standards (1:57.1, $2.80) and Ready Set Rock (1:56.3, $2.80). 

Finally, Denny Bucceri registered a driving hat trick, including winning the second $10,000 conditioned distaff pace with Tuapeka Jessie N.

Sapphire Love Chip (Shawn McDonough) cut the half in :58.2 before Bucceri made a big three-wide move with Tuapeka Jessie N approaching three-quarters. Tuapeka Jessie N cleared, entered the turn and then ran off the screen coming home to win by five open lengths in 1:57.2. Tuapeka Jessie N ($6.20) is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing and was one of three winners trained by Maria Rice during the night. 

Bucceri solidified his triple behind Night Flyer K (1:59.2, $3.70) and Scrub Hanover (1:57.1, $10.00). 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Nov. 12) at 6 p.m. and there is another carryover available. The Jackpot Hi-5 Pentafecta in the 13th race will start with $3,112 in the pool. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab and then you watch all the races live on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.

Photo by Wendy J. Lowery.

It was Deja Vu all over again for last week's feature winners Just Plain Loco and Credit List, who came right back on Saturday (Nov. 5) to claim another $14,000 Open Handicap on their respective gaits. 

First on the pace, Just Plain Loco (Dave McNeight III) got away sixth as Yankee On The Move (Kyle Cummings) led the field to the half in :57.3. Stop Action (Kevin Cummings) moved first over with Just Plain Loco on his back. Positions remained the same to three quarters where Stop Action stopped and forced Just Plain Loco three wide in the last turn. With a two length lead at the top of the stretch, Yankee On The Move made a break and went right, interfering with several horses including Just Plain Loco. But Just Plain Loco regrouped quickly and paced down the center of the lane to win by 1-½ lengths in 1:55. 

Just Plain Loco ($6.00) is owned by Paul Lang and Mark Toth and is trained by Jennifer Giuliani.

Giuliani had three wins to lead all trainers on Saturday. 

Then on the trot, Credit List (Jim Morrill Jr.) also got away sixth and watched as BJ Laredo (Drew Monti) parked Inquiring Mind (Denny Bucceri) to the half in :57.1. When Inquiring Mind stalled past that station, Jumpinthejailhouse (Kevin Cummings) shook loose and forged to the front by three-quarters. There, Credit List also got loose and swung into contention around the last turn. Credit List and Jumpinthejailhouse battled all the way to the wire where Credit List got the win by a neck in 1:57.3. 

Credit List ($4.50) is owned by Room4040 LLC Stables and is trained by Kevin Reynolds Jr. 

Morrill ended the day with four winners on the card.  

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 9) at 6 p.m. and there is another carryover available. The Jackpot Hi-5 Pentafecta in the 13th race will start with $2,527 in the pool. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab and then you watch all the races live on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel. 

Photo by Wendy J. Lowery.

After going a very long mile, the hard-working Saulsbrook Olympia notched her second straight victory in the $14,000 Distaff Open Handicap at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Nov. 2). 

Somebeachsomefra (Jim Morrill Jr.) was the early leader and forced The Stunning Nun N (Ray Fisher Jr.) to abandon her desire for the front and tuck in second. The race hit the quarter in :28.1 and as they paced by three-eights, Dave McNeight III tipped Saulsbrook Olympia out from sixth and started the trek forward, looking to flush cover. As no one else pulled right lines, Saulsbrook Olympia was on her own and took the task to heart, first-up in the breeze. 

Saulsbrook Olympia was fourth at the five-eighths and third at three-quarters. Then as they headed into the last turn, The Stunning Nun N left the pocket and forced her three-deep. But Fisher changed course quickly with The Stunning Nun N and went back to the pylons leaving Sauslbrook Olympia a clear shot into the lane. As the passing lane opened, The Stunning Nun N moved through inside of Somebeachsomefra and Saulsbrook Olympia was in full stride in the middle of the track. The three mares paced in unison to the wire in a blanket finish where a photo and judge’s determination declared Saulsbrook Olympia the winner by a head in 1:55.3.

Scoring her tenth win of the year, Saulsbrook Olympia ($5.00) now shows $80,266 in earnings on her card and both numbers are single season highs for the mare. William Mcneil and Edward Gorc own the Jennifer Giuliani-trained daughter of Big Jim-Racino Star. 

The win was one of two for Giuliani while it also kicked off a natural driving hat trick for McNeight that now gives him 49 victories at Batavia and moved him back into a tie for third place for dash wins this meet with Kyle Cummings, who won one race during the night. The leading Kevin Cummings and second place Jim Morrill Jr. both had three wins apiece on Wednesday as well and that puts them at 108 and 102 respectively.  

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Nov. 5) at 6 p.m. and there is another carryover available. The Jackpot Hi-5 Pentafecta in the 13th race will start with $2,123 in the pool. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab and then you watch all the races live on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.

Photo by Wendy J. Lowery.

Joseph C. Sarago of Cheektowaga, New York died on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at age 80.

Mr. Sarago was a life-long fixture of harness racing at Batavia Downs and in western New York, having first gotten involved in the sport with a Standardbred named Choicey Williams that he owned through his aunt and uncle who raced back in the 1960s. After first getting licensed in 1966, Mr. Sarago went on to both train and drive and over the years, honed his skills and abilities through relationships with top reignsmen Gerry Sarama and Mike Gagliardi. Mr. Sarago drove mostly in the 1970s and 80’s and scaled back that part of his career in the 1990s in lieu of expanding his training time.

Mr. Sarago had a long list of top performers including arguably his best pacer ever, the 74-time winner Cambiance (1:55.1, $235,460), Crash Helmet (1:55.2, $160,123), Niatrator (1:55.4, $106,518), Woodhill Flash (2:01.1, $73,488) and Magnolia Queen (1:59.4, $56,405). Throughout his career, Mr. Sarago had 245 driving wins that earned $571,077 and 136 training wins that banked another $361,676 for his connections. He stepped away from full-time participation in the barn in the late 1990s but stayed close to the sport by driving the starting car at Tioga Downs from 2006 until 2020. L

Mr. Sarago was universally liked and respected within the harness racing community and will be deeply missed by all that knew him in throughout his career.   

Mr. Sarago was the beloved son of the late Anthony and Clara (nee Wentzel) Sarago; dearest brother of Mary Ellen (Michael) DiVincenzo; dear uncle of Michael III (Lynn) and Anthony (Ken McGee) DiVincenzo. Family will be present to receive relatives and friends Tuesday (Nov. 1) from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Melvin J. Sliwinski Funeral Home, 5090 Transit Road (south of Como Park Blvd.) Depew, New York where services will be held at 6:30 PM.

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. lit it up at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 29) winning six races on the card including a natural hat trick in races five, six and seven and did not miss the board in the 13 starts he drove. 

Morrill’s top victory came in the co-featured $14,000 Open I Handicap trot where Credit List led at every station to claim his sixth win of the year. 

Leaving from post six, Credit List was on the point by 1-½  lengths at the :29.3 quarter and never looked back from there. With BJ Laredo (Drew Monti) tracking closest behind in the pocket and absolutely no opposition coming from behind, Credit List floated to the half in :58.4 and three-quarters in 1:27.4 before rounding the last turn and trotting away by 1-½ lengths under wraps to win in 1:57.1. 

Owned by Room4040 LLC Stables and trained by Kevin Reynolds, Credit List returned $4.20.

Morrill also won with Deputy Seelster (1:57, $5.30), Silver Arrow (1:56, $3.70), Prairie Panther (1:54.3, $3.70), Inquiring Mind (1:57.3, $4.20) and Beach Fire K (1:55, $3.90).

Morrill also had four seconds and three-thirds giving him a lofty .709 UDR for the evening. Saturday’s six wins moved him to 99 for the meet, now just six behind the leading Kevin Cummings who won two races himself and now has 105 wins during this session. 

Later in the other featured Open I Handicap pace, Just plain Loco (Dave McNeight III) found himself starting from pylon position and took full advantage of his infrequent visit to the far-left wing. Flaunting his noted gate speed, Just Plain Loco flew to the front while the entire field fell in line behind in post position order. After the leader set a tepid :58.4 half, Morrill came first-up with Out On Bail and drew alongside the pocket-sitting Stratosphere (Drew Monti) and made Just Plain Loco pick up the tempo. McNeight was happy to oblige and simply gave Just Plain Loco his head. Then lickety-split, he went to the three-quarters in :28.4 to rebuff the outside challenger and then turned for home and pulled away by three lengths in a :27.3 final panel and won in 1:55.1. 

The eighth win of the year pushed Just Plain Loco ($3.30) over the century mark in earnings for 2022, now boasting $102,170 in the bank for owners Paul Lang and Mark Toth. This was one of three winners on the night for trainer Jennifer Giuliani, who led all her conditioning peers in winner's circle visits.  

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 5) at 6 p.m. and there is another carryover available. The Jackpot Hi-5 Pentafecta in the 13th race will start with $1,666 in the pool. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab and then you watch all the races live on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.