The last time she was at Batavia Downs in 2021, Racine Bell set the track record of 1:51.3 for aged pacing mares after destroying her competition by eight full-lengths. On Wednesday night (August 23), the million-dollar mare returned to the Downs and won again in the $15,000 fillies and mares Open Handicap pace.
Anne Bonney N (Cory Kreiser) took an early lead while Racine Bell (Kevin Cummings) rolled three-wide at the eighth pole on her way to the front at the :27.1 quarter. After crossing over, Cummings settled Racine Bell down and backed off the middle half to a tepid :58.4 as Oaxacan Dream N (Matty Athearn) and Waitforever N (Jim Morrill Jr.) were one out and one back in the breeze. Waitforever N made a three-wide move in turn three and found herself only a length behind the leader as they made their way around the final bend. But that was as close as she'd get as Racine Bell maintained that margin all the way to the line under Cummings urging to win in 1:55.1.
It was the 33rd lifetime win in only 89 lifetime starts for Racine Bell ($3.40) and owners Chris Lawton and Dale Lawton. David Dewhurst was the winning trainer.
Besides Racine Bell, Kevin Cummings also won with Tullow N (1:57.1, $2.60), Confidence Man (1:57.1, $9.40), Louie The Lilac (1:55.1, $4.30),
and Pepin Coolie (2:01.2, $4.90) to round out his five bagger on Wednesday.
Earlier in the $13,000 fillies and mares Open II Handicap, Diamondtequilashot (Jim Morrill Jr.) sat the pocket behind American Jazz (Denny Bucerri) through quarters of :28, :57.1 and 1:26 while Bet I’m Lucky (Jim McNeight Jr.) and Mcdelicacy (Kevin Cummings) pushed the issue on the outside from the half to the top of the stretch. It was there that Diamondtequilashot found the passing lane and paced by them all to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.
Diamondtequilashot ($2.60) got her 49th lifetime win and third of the year for owner Rick Senger and trainer Bill Rhoades.
Jim Morrill Jr. also won with TImeless Virgin (1:58.1, $2.50), Kandy Sweet (1:58.4, $2.20), and Mildrix (1:56.2, $3.00) to complete his grand slam.
When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Aug. 25) at 6 p.m. there will be a $6,582 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta in the 13th race.
On Saturday (Aug. 26), Batavia Downs will host the richest card of racing in 2023 when a total of $450,600 in purses will be up for grabs. The program features both colt and filly divisions of New York Sire Stake and Excelsior 3-year-old trotters with total purses of $305,100 and the $75,000 Kane Memorial Invitational Pace, which is Batavia Downs signature race.
Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
