Sports

Richard R. Mays, of Hamburg, passed away on Sept. 7, 2022, after a fierce battle with cancer.

Mr. Mays was a lifelong horseman who competed in western New York for 50 years. He was first licensed in 1973 at the age of 16 and has been competing at tracks across New York state ever since. He experienced great early career driving success with the Open pacing mare May O’neighs (2:01.1, $83,925) and Open pacing gelding Lyron Hanover (1:59.3, $127,242) along with a list of other top horses that he raced at Batavia Downs. Later in his career when he switched to training more than driving, Mr. Mays developed many solid racehorses including the multiple stakes winner Two Twentytwo (1:51.3, $293,729).  

During his career, Mr. Mays drove 1,638 winners that earned $4,222,626. He trained another 321 winners which added $1,585,531 to his purse total. His total career efforts won him 1,959 races that benefited his horse’s connections $5,808,157. Mr. Mays was actively racing right up until the time of his passing.

Mr. Mays was the beloved husband of Karen M. Mays (nee Babcock), loving father of Christopher (Frances) Mays, Jamie Simmons, and Scott Mays, dear grandpa of Tyler, Mayson, Maddie, and Hudson, dearest son of the late Frank and Marion Mays, loving brother of Frank Jr., Robert, Terry, Tom, and Joyce. Mr. Mays is also survived by a large loving family and many dear friends.

The family will be present to receive relatives and friends on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Hamburg Chapel of the John J. Kaczor Funeral Home, 5453 Southwestern Blvd. (corner of Rogers Rd.) where a closing prayer will be said at 7 p.m. Please share condolences at www.kaczorfunerals.com.

Beaten only a nose last week after winning three in a row, Saulsbrook Olympia got back to her winning ways after she parlayed a lot of early movement into a late stretch score in the $15,000 Open I Handicap pace for fillies and mares at Batavia downs on Wednesday night (Sept. 7). 

Dontustopbelievn N (Jim Morrill Jr.) grabbed the front and made fellow leavers Demeter N (Larry Stalbaum) and Dashintothebeach N (Luke Hanners) work hard to take it from her. Demeter N cleared at the :28 quarter and Dashintothebeach N supplanted that one at the top of the stretch, heading to the half. And just as the field had finally achieved single file, Tres Chic Bluechip (Kevin Cummings) pulled first-over from fifth and brought Saulsbrook Olympia (Dave McNeight III) with her to push the issue even further. 

Dashintothebeach N continued to lead up the backstretch until she hit three-quarters where Tres Chic Bluechip drew alongside, but that was just part of the evolving story. Saulsbrook Olympia who had been drafting one out and two back in the breeze was now winging it three-wide halfway into the final turn. By the time they hit the straight, Tres Chic Bluechip had overtaken Dashintothebeach N, but then Saulsbrook Olympia overtook Tres Chic Bluechip and pulled away to 1-½ length victory in 1:53.4. 

It was the fourth win in the last five starts and eighth win overall this year for Saulsbrook Olympia ($9.40) who is owned by William Mcneil and Edward Gorc and trained by Jeniffer Giuliani. 

McNeight III had a driving double on Wednesday. 

There were also two $11,000 upper-level condition races for distaff participants and the winning pair went nearly identical miles. 

In the first So Admirable (Jim Morrill Jr.) started from post one and was never headed. After cutting quarters of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:25.3 while extending her lead to three lengths by the top of the stretch, she closed out the deal in 1:54.2, equalling her lifetime mark. 

So Admirable ($3.50) is owned by Joe Amico Jr. and trained by Shawn McDonough. 

Then in the second, Winning Words (Kevin Cummings) also left from pylon position and went gate to wire in handy fashion. After splits of :28, :57.1 and 1:26, Cummings let Winning Words pace home on top by 1-¾ in 1:54.3.

Winning Words ($4.50) is owned by Steven Goehle and Norene Mego. Angelo Nappo trains the winner. 

Cummings ended the night with three wins while Nappo wrapped it up with two. 

Other horsemen with doubles on Wednesday were driver Dan Yetman and trainer Dave Russo. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 10) with post time at 6 p.m. 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.

Photo by Wendy J. Lowery

The Batavia Boys Varsity Soccer team beat Holley in their first game of the season.

Goals were scored by Dima Havens, with an assist from Owen Halpin, and Matthew Wittmeyer, assisted by Dima Havens.  

"A fantastic performance by the defense led by Ryan Dillon while with Jack Pickard earned a shutout," said Head Coach Graham Halpin.

After a perfect steer from Kyle Cummings, Flying Finn N finished strong to register his season’s best effort in the $15,000 Open I Handicap pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 3). 

Flying Finn N traded leads with Art Scene (Jim Morrill Jr.) off the gate, but landed in front for good just past the :28.2 first quarter. With no imminent aggression near the leader, Flying Finn N hit the half in :57.4 and circled the third turn before he needed to look to his right. It was at the five-eighths pole when Stop Action (Kevin Cummings) entered the picture and drew alongside Flying Finn N to match strides to three-quarters and around the final bend. At the top of the stretch Stop Action stalled, but the tripping Art Scene found the passing lane while Just Plain Loco (Dave McNeight III) swung wide for the drive. But try as they might, neither would get closer than a length to Flying Finn N who was confidently ridden-out by Cummings to claim a one-length victory in a seasonal mark of 1:53.3. 

It was the sixth win of the year for Flying Finn N ($7.90) who is owned by William Emmons and trained by Jim Clouser Jr. 

Cummings and Clouser doubled up after they also won with Jeremes General (1:57, $2.60) three races later. 

In the $13,000 upper-condition co-feature, American Trademark (Keith Kash) got a perfect pocket trip behind Thor De Vie (Jim Morrill Jr.) before shaking loose in the lane to claim a 1-¼ length win in 1:54.2. It was the seventh win of the year for American Trademark ($4.50) who is owned by L’Emmur Stable. Kash also trains the winner. 

Kash joined the double club by adding Breakout Session (1:54.1, $6.50) to his win tally Saturday. 

The Batavia meet's leading driver, Kevin Cummings, was also the leading driver of the night as he scored a hat trick during the proceedings. And with his two wins, Jim Rothfuss joined Clouser as co-leading conditioner for Saturday. 

There is a substantial carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 wager at Batavia Downs and when live racing resumes at the track on Labor Day Monday (Sept. 5), that pool will start with $2,265 in race 11. Labor Day features the annual driver’s bike race and giveaway and $1 hot dogs, draft beer and soda from noon to 5 p.m. at the Homestretch Grill. Post time for the first race is at 1:15 p.m. 

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.

Photo by Wendy J. Lowery

The New York Sire Stakes visited Batavia Downs for the final time this year on Wednesday (Aug. 31) with a dozen 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings competing for the remaining spots in the finals to be held during the Day of Champions at Tioga Downs on Saturday (Sept. 10). 

In the first $52,500 division, Cecil Hanover (Chapter Seven-Columbia) looked sharp getting his first lifetime and NYSS win.

Cecil Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) left and led the field to the quarter where Met Your Request (Andy Miller) assumed the top position as the clock read :29. Positions remained unchanged to the half when Svanstedt tipped Cecil Hanover and regained control of the race past the five-eighths. At that point Met Your Request and Tillio's Action (Mile Merton) both made breaks and Cecil Hanover was on top by 4-½ lengths going by three-quarters in 1:29. Coming off the far turn the race was over as Cecil Hanover trotted home on his own and won easily by 4-¾ lengths in a lifetime mark of 1:58.2.

Cecil Hanover ($6.80) is owned by S R F Stable, Midnight Sun Partners, Ake Svanstedt and Jorgen Sparredal. Svanstedt also trains the colt that was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.

The second $53,500 leg went to Onion Gum (Chapter Seven-Princessa) who also scored his first NYSS win as well. 

Jax Spratt (Kevin Cummings) took command and went :28.4 and 1:00 to the half as Sevecheetah (Trond Smedshammer) and The Strawboss (Jim Morrill Jr.) followed close behind. The first to pull was Onion Gum (Jordan Stratton) who moved from fourth and was quickly second and only one length off by three-quarters. It was a real race around the last turn and when they hit the straight three horses had a shot. Jax Spratt was still on top but Onion Gum was wearing him down. Sevecheetah then found room at the pylons and was barreling towards the wire. But Onion Gum chewed up the most ground to the line and won by one length in 1:59.4. 

Onion Gum ($4.20) is owned by S R F Stable (who was also part owner of Cecil Hanover), Order By Stable (who bred the colt) and Mario Mazza. Lucas Wallin trains Onion Gum. 

Jordan Stratton continued his driving dominance at Batavia Downs on Wednesday after winning another four races on the card. Beside his victory with the aforementioned Onion Gum, Stratton also scored with How About Murph (1:56.2, $7.40), Dashintothebeach N (1:54.1, $5.00) and the aptly named Grand Slam Hero (2:02.2, $16.00).  Stratton was in town last Friday (Aug. 26) and registered a hat trick during the night, giving him a total of seven wins in his last 15 drives in Genesee County. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 3) with post time at 6 p.m. 

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.

Photo by Wendy J. Lowery

Batavia Downs leading driver Kevin Cummings continued his torrid pace on Sunday (Aug. 28) after his Grand Slam performance at the track on Saturday night. Cummings drove six more winners of the 12 races held, giving him a total of 11 wins in the last 22 races in which he drove. 

Cummings biggest win of the day came with Jumpininthejailhouse, who won the co-featured $14,000 Open II trot in fairly easy fashion. 

Jumpininthejailhouse went right to the front and reached the quarter in :28.4 as All About Thechase (Mike Caprio) and Batting Stats (Keith Kash Jr.) followed closely behind. With positions unchanged from that point, Jumpininthejailhouse then went :59.2 to the half and 1:28.3 to three-quarters and extended his lead to 2-½ length coming off the last turn. The race was over at the point as Cummings had Jumpininthejailhouse wrapped up by 2-¼ lengths in 1:57.4, which tied his season’s best clocking. 

Jumpininthejailhouse ($4.20) is owned by Mike Torcello and was trainer Sammy Smith’s second win of the afternoon. 

Cummings completed his six pack with wins behind Faithful Desire (1:55.2, $2.90), Anurka (1:57, $6.10), Bacardi (1:57, $3.90), Parkhill Horton (1:58, $6.30) and Way To Go Fabio (1:55.3, $6.30).

So far this meet, Kevin Cummings has 45 wins in only 156 starts and sits ahead of Jim Morrill Jr. (39) in the top spot for dash supremacy.   

The one race Cummings didn’t win was the $15,000 Open I Handicap trot, where Saratoga regular Oh So Pine shipped in off a disappointing start at Plainridge Park and got back on track in a gate-to-wire win. 

Larry Stalbaum flew off the wings with Oh So Pine and opened up a three-length lead at the :29.2 quarter. With Lunar Credit (Jim McNeight III) snug in the pocket, Oh So Pine continued to set a steady tempo to the half in :59.2 and three-quarters in 1:28.3. At the top of the stretch Lunar Credit and Sanchez Rocks (Drew Monti) were both within a length of the leader as they were trotting to the wire, but Oh So Pine was the toughest of them all and won by one-half length in 1:57.4. 

The Stalbaum-owned and trained Oh So Pine ($6.20) got his third win of the year and raised his cash total to $64,199 in 2022. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 31) at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a carryover of $1,502 in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 in race 12. 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.

Photo courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery

Surfer Beach took a while to get the lead but when he did he finished the job this week, winning the $15,000 Winners-Over I Handicap at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Aug. 27).

Last week's feature winner Stratosphere (Drew Monti) was first to the front and held that position until the :27.3 quarter when Surfer Beach (Jim Morrill Jr.) went to the head of the class. With little resistance over the next half mile, Surfer Beach hit the half in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:24.4, where a luke-warn outside challenge from Blue Spanx (Keith Kash Jr.) failed. As the pacers turned for home, Stratosphere popped the pocket and tried to catch Surfer Beach like he did just one week ago, but Surfer Beach had more in reserve this week and paced home in :27.4 to win by 2-¼ lengths in 1:52.3.

It was the second win in the last three starts and fourth overall this year for Surfer Beach ($3.20) who is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing. Maria Rice trains the winner. 

Morrill ended the day with three wins and Rice scored two of her own. 

Then in the $14,000 Winners-Over II Handicap, Out On Bail tripped out to his seventh win of the year. 

For horses left but Out On Bail (Jim McNieght III) was first to the front, until Daylight Rush (Dave McNieght III) decided to vacate the pocket in lieu of the lead at the quarter. The race then proceeded to the half in :57.4 when Long Train Running (Drew Monti) came first up and pacing towards Daylight Rush. Positions remained unchanged as they moved to three-quarters where Long Train Running started to fade which gave Out On Bail the room he needed to tip into the stretch. McNeight did pull Out On Bail at the head of the lane, passed Daylight Rush shortly after and then held off all late challenges to win by 1-¼ length in 1:54.3. 

Out On Bail is owned by Mike Torcello and is trained by Sammy Smith, who had two winners on Saturday.  

Kevin Cummings had a big night scoring a driving grand slam that included a natural hat trick in races three, four and five. He won with China Dream (1:56, $6.70), Best Brew (1:58.1, $21.00), Gallery Opening (1:56.4, $18.40) and Beachboydesire (1:55.3, $51.00). 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Sunday (Aug. 28) at 1:15 p.m. and there will be a carryover of $1,270 in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 in race 12. 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. 

Photo courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery

American Dealer N scored a 2-½ length victory and set a new all-time track record of 1:50.2 in the 17th edition of the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Aug. 26).

American Courage (Matt Kakaley) fired off the wings and took a quick lead while American Dealer N (Joe Bongiorno) also left and tucked into the garden spot. After getting to the quarter in :27.1 and the half in :55.3, Gia's Surreal (Brian Sears) was first to pull and try to approach the leader. But American Courage was not slowing down after the :27.3 third quarter and he and American Dealer N were starting to separate from the field. As they came off the turn and headed down the lane, American Dealer N ducked into the passing lane and accelerated like a jet by American Courage in deep stretch and won in 1:50.2 to set the new track standard. 

It was the sixth win of the year for the Australian import American Dealer N ($26.80) who is owned by Enviro Stables and Ken Jacobs. 

This was the second Kane win for Jacobs and Toscano who won the 2008 edition with Kenneth J who also set the all time track record then of 1:52 with his effort that day. 

It was also the third win of the night for Joe Bongiorno. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 27) at  6:00 p.m. 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.

The New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts, geldings and fillies were held at Batavia Downs on Friday evening (Aug. 26) with a total of $232,700 in purses available for the 17 state-bred participants. There were two divisions for fillies and a lone male division that had a purse of $119,800 and that was a heavyweight fight. 

Slay (Chapter Seven-Swinging Royalty) got a perfect trip from driver Joe Bongiorno and ran down Molotov Cocktail in deep stretch to claim a narrow victory.

World At War Deo (Wally Hennessy) took over the lead from Chapheart (Trond Smedshammer) at the :28 quarter and got a short breather to the half before the action really picked up. Molotov Cocktail (Brian Sears) was the first to pull and Slay was happy to get his cover as they moved around turn three on the second circuit.  

They headed up the backside in two rows with World At War Deo still in front with Molotov Cocktail right by his side as they motored to three-quarters. Around the last turn, Molotov Cocktail took the lead in the middle of the track and Slay tipped off his cover going three deep, and the pair hooked up from there. The two trotters were at full speed down the stretch, matching strides all the way. Molotov Cocktail and Slay were inseparable under strong urging from their drivers until just before the line where Slay got a neck in front and won in 1:55.4. 

It was the second straight win and fourth of the year for Slay ($4.60) who now has $262,897 made in 2022 for Crawford Farms Racing and James A. Crawford. Tony Alagna trains the colt bred by Jonas Schlabach.

Then there were the girls. 

The first field of four fillies vied for $55,900 and Cash Fusion (Chapter Seven-Swing Anna Cash) delivered as expected. 

Tyler Buter took Cash Fusion off the gate while In A Tiny Way (Jordan Stratton) settled in the lead. But that last only an eighth of a mile before Buter rushed the front and took command. The group remained single-file until the five-eighths when La Vie En Blanc (Joe Bongiorno) pulled first up and leveled off in second outside of In A Tiny Way. Around the last turn Cash Infusion started to swell up and opened up 1-½ lengths by the top of the stretch. Down the lane Buter sat chilly as Cash Infusion coasted home on top by 2-¼ lengths in a new lifetime mark of 1:55.3. 

It was the third win of the year for Cash Infusion ($4.40) who has now earned $132,723 this year for owners  William Donovan, Purnell & Libby, Joe Sbrocco and the George Ducharme Stable. George Ducharme also trains the winner that was bred by Jonas Schlabach. 

The second group of five lined up for $57,000 Valentina Blu (Chapter Seven-Corazon Blue Chip) was very strong in victory. 

Seven On The Rocks (John Stark Jr.) went quickly for the lead but the spot was short-lived as Joe Bongiorno took over with Valentina Blu before the quarter that went :29.1. There were no changes in order until the backstretch when Je Suis Si Belle (Andy Miller) charged the leader with She's A Scorcher (Jordan Stratton) following close behind. The top four trotted in two rows around the last turn with only three lengths between them until they straightened out. In the stretch, Valentina Blu dug in under a drive and opened up by 1-½ lengths at the light and won in 1:56.1.

It was the second win in a row and third of the year for Valentina Blu and pushed her 2022 earnings to $122,125. Crawford Farms owns the Tony Alagna trained filly that was bred by Spring Haven Farm and Doug Millard. Due to multiple stable entries, Valentina Blu raced for purse only. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 27) at  6:00 p.m. 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. 

Photo courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery

The 17th edition of the Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace will be held at Batavia Downs on Friday (Aug. 26) and with the $75,000 purse being the highest ever offered, has drawn the highest quality field ever seen since the race was instituted. With combined earnings of just under $5 million between the eight starters, the 2022 edition should place the track record of 1:51.1 in jeopardy and prove to be the most memorable yet.

Funatthebeach N was claimed last September at Yonkers Raceway for $75,000 by owner Mark Ford and it has been the days of wine and roses ever since. He went on to win three Yonkers Open paces and finished second by a length in another to Tattoo Artist in the track record tying time of 1:49.3. This year he won two legs of the Borgata series at Yonkers before taking the $549,000 final in April. In June he took his second major stake after winning the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park in 1:49.2 which also gave him a new lifetime mark. Since that time he has continued to be a force in the best class at The Hilltop and comes into Friday’s race as the second richest aged pacer of 2022 (behind only Bulldog Hanover) with $546,197 in earnings. He is also the richest horse in this race with $879,946 made lifetime.  

American Courage won seven straight New York Sire Stake races at two before taking his first defeat in the final. He came back at three and won the $500,000 Messenger Stake at Yonkers and competed in both the Meadowlands Pace and the Little Brown Jug. This year he paced the eighth fastest mile of the season at Mohegan Sun Pocono in July when he scorched the oval in 1:47.4 in a 6-1/4 length romp. He has since won two Open paces at Yonkers in identical 1:51 miles and comes into this race razor sharp off a 1:48.3 second place finish to Allywag Hanover at Mohegan Sun Pocono just six days ago.   

Gia’s Surreal is the only female in this field and only the second ever to start in this race. She raced at Batavia as a 2 and 3-year-old and knows this track well. This will be her first start back at her home track since August 5, 2020. Over the past two years, she has faced the best Open female pacers in North America week in and week out and is held in the same esteem as Lyons Sentinel, Racine Bell, Test Of Faith, Majorca N, Amazing Dream N, Rocknificent and Siesta Beach. She has done some of her best work over a half-mile track as is evidenced by her work at Yonkers since 2021.

Splash Brother has raced at Batavia Downs three times during his career competing in the NYSS, but this will be his first start back since 2020. That was the year he took his lifetime mark of 1:48.2 at the Meadowlands. Last summer he was race timed in eight sub-1:50 miles out of 10 straight starts including a 1:47.4 clocking where he has beaten only 2-3/4 lengths at the Meadowlands. He continues to flaunt his speed at five, taking a seasonal win mark of 1:48.4 at the Meadowlands, being race timed in 1:47.2 in the $98,000 Roll With Joe Stake in July he and comes into Friday’s race off a sharp 5-1/2 length win at Yonkers in 1:51 flat. It’s also a homecoming for trainer Ray Schnittker who is originally from nearby North Tonawanda, NY and started his career racing at Batavia Downs.

Semi Tough is another Yonkers Open regular who finished third in the $549,000 Borgata final behind Funatthebeach N in April. He was given a couple months off after that series and only has three starts back since that time. This horse has a lot of back class after earning just short of $500,000 as a 2 and 3-year-old. The former Pennsylvania Sire Stake star was in a number of prestigious stakes during his career including the North American Cup, Little Brown Jug and Breeders Crown twice. Those appearances have pushed his lifetime earnings to $874,000, making him the second-richest starter in this race.

American Dealer N is a multiple Group One winner in the southern hemisphere that includes a victory in the 2021 Queensland Derby at Albion Park. He made his last start in Australia on December 4, 2021 and then landed in North America shortly after. He made his first U.S. start in March at the Meadowlands a winning one after a 1:49.2 effort in an upper-level condition race. Since that time he won a leg of the Borgata and two Opens at Yonkers. He was race timed in 1:48.3, beaten only a neck at the Meadowlands in May with a sparkling :25.3 final quarter. The following week he was race timed in 1:49.4 in the $100,000 Commodore Barry where he lost by only 2-3/4 lengths. He will face some familiar foes in this race.  

Wild Wild Western was unraced at two but competed in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at three as well as the $400,000 Adios, but that was pretty much the extent of his stake action. As a result, he has earned the bulk of his $484,025 in lifetime earnings the hard way --- in overnights. He has been a fixture in the Open class at the Meadows (where he took his 1:49.1 lifetime mark) and Northfield Park since 2020. Recently he finished third in the $100,000 Commodore Barry race timed in 1:49.2 and competed in Invitational paces at Hoosier Park and Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Moonshine Kisses has been lightly raced this year but he has tons of speed and knows how to win. The Saratoga-based pacer shipped to Massachusetts for his last three starts and really made a mark in the top class at Plainridge Park. His first outing there was a 1:49.3, 4-3/4 length win that not only gave him a new lifetime mark, but also tied the Plainridge track record for aged pacing horses. He then finished second to Allyouneedisfaith N by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:50.2 after getting parked the entire mile. He bounced right back in his last start and won again in 1:50.2. He is another blue-collar horse that just shows up and performs.

The $75,000 Kane Memorial will go as race nine with an estimated post time of 8:40 p.m. Friday’s card also features New York Sire Stake 3-year-old trotters of both genders competing for $232,700 in purses. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m. 

Photo courtesy of Mark Hall

Jim Graham is a longtime western New York horseman that has been training and racing at Batavia Downs since the 1980s. He has over 1,500 conditioning wins and in excess of $7.25 million in purses throughout his career. For a majority of that time, he has been a proponent of young horses targeted towards racing the full stake spectrum from county fairs to the New York Sire Stakes. But little did he and his partners Ed Peron and Lee Winters know that a little filly that they purchased five years ago named Gia’s Surreal would turn out to be a generational type of racehorse they would have a chance to race her back at their home track in the biggest overnight race ever held there.

The homecoming for Gia’s Surreal will be Friday night (Aug. 26) at Batavia Downs when she will face seven rivals in the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace.

Gia’s Surreal (So Surreal-Nancy Irene) entered the 2017 Morrisville College yearling sale as Hip number 2 and was purchased for $20,000 by Graham who broke and trained her until he was involved in an accident at Saratoga. She was then given to Brett Crawford who finished training her down leading up to her racing in the NYSS as a 2-year-old in 2018. That year she had a total of six starts in that series getting money in each and making the final where she finished fifth. But the filly never won a race in a total of nine starts in her freshman year.

Gia’s Surreal’s fortunes changed at three as she won four out of five NYSS Excel “A” races before finishing second in that final. She then transitioned into racing in the Open classes at Batavia Downs where she won three out of five to end the year that saw her in the winner’s circle 10 times.

After a delayed start due to Covid in 2020, Gia’s Surreal returned as an aged mare and eventually shipped north to Woodbine Mohawk Park where she ripped off three out of four wins while taking a lifetime mark of 1:51.4 in November. She continued to race in Canada until March of 2021 when the decision was made to add more tracks to her calendar in April.

“I thought she was a quality horse and I wanted to race her at Mohawk. But after she succeeded there we had high hopes that she could compete at the highest level. So we paid her into the Meadowlands events and Lexington and started making her schedule around those races,” said Graham.

Gia’s Surreal’s first start in New Jersey was a new lifetime mark of 1:50.3, a standard she would again lower to 1:49.3 later that year back at Woodbine. She was stellar at Yonkers and won the Open there in 1:52.1. And over the past two years she has made a plethora of stake starts on the Grand Circuit including the $160,000 Artiscape, $178,500 Dorothy Haughton, $191,050 Lady Liberty, $252,800 Roses Are Red, $189,600 Milton, $168,000 Dayton Distaff Derby, $175,000 TVG Mares final, $381,800 Blue Chip Matchmaker series, $100,000 Clara Barton and $100,000 Cleopatra Invitational.

The level of competition Gia’s Surreal has seen since 2020 is second to none. She has lined up against the likes of Lyons Sentinel, Racine Bell, Test Of Faith, Majorca N, Amazing Dream N, Rocknificent and Siesta Beach just to name a few. And at this top level to date she has amassed $713,380 in earnings from her 30 wins, 16 seconds and 16-thirds out of only 98 lifetime starts. That is just under a 30% win percentage and just over 60% in the money.

“She has been rock solid her whole career. We had a little issue with her front ankles late in the season last year and early this year she had a wall separation in her foot that caused her to miss two legs of the Matchmaker. But knock on wood, she’s been a very solid and sound mare,” explained Graham.

As for the Kane this week, Gia’s Surreal is only the second mare to compete in this race. Artistry In Rhythm started in the 2010 edition for driver Ken Holliday but did not fare very well, however that is nothing more than a footnote 12 years later. Gia’s Surreal is the third richest and second-winningest starter in this race and starts from post two for Hall of Fame driver Brian Sears. With her class and ability, there is no doubt that “Girl Power” could reign supreme for Gia’s Surreal on Friday against seven male rivals who would be at the top level of competition in any racing jurisdiction in North America.

“This is a great field of horses and it will be a true test of her savvy obviously, but we’re not afraid of anybody. When we were asked if we’d be interested in racing in here I knew that many Open male pacers would be entering the Canadian Pacing Derby eliminations so I was fairly certain that none of the top-top echelon Grand Circuit boys would be entered. So I said, sure we’ll come for it,” said Graham.

“She seems excellent coming in. She spent a few days at the farm, on the treadmill, in the field, and then she just jogged the rest of the week. I feel great about bringing her home and I’m glad I was asked to be here. It was an honor to be included with this caliber of horses.”

Moving forward Gia’s Surreal is paid into every major mares race until the end of the year. Next week she goes back to Canada for the Milton, then she will ship back to Dayton and then The Red Mile. Assuming that she’s still in top form, she will finish the year in the Breeders Crown at Mohawk and the TVG at the Meadowlands.  

Post time for the special Friday card that also features New York Sire Stakes 3-year-old trotters of both genders vying for $232,700 in total purses is 6 p.m.

Photo courtesy of New Image Media

The New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotters of both genders will be contested at Batavia Downs during a special Friday night card (Aug. 26) with $232,700 in purses, as well as points up for grabs for horses that still need to solidify a spot in the finals at the Night of Champions at Tioga Downs on Saturday (Sept. 10). 

The marquee event will be the $119,800 division for colts and geldings where two 2022 Hambletonian elimination competitors will square off.

Slay (Chapter Seven-Swinging Royalty) is currently tied as the second fastest 3-year-old trotting colt in North America as a result of his 1:51, :26 flat last quarter victory in the $125,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial at the Meadowlands in July. Two weeks after that he was in the $100,000 Hambletonian elimination where he was beaten only 3-¾ lengths although he missed making the final. But he bounced right back in a NYSS event at Saratoga where he handily won gate to wire in 1:54.3 and 1-½ lengths ahead of Molotov Cocktail. That was also his fastest win time ever recorded over a half mile track.

Slay has been competing against the best sophomore trotters in the country all year including Joviality S, Jiggy Jog S and Temporal Hanover and as a result, has amassed $202,997 in earnings this year putting him seventh on the list among all North American 3-year-old male trotters. In the NYSS series he is currently tied for second in points (125) with Cool Papa Bell and is third in earnings ($84,825) and has his sights firmly on the finals in two weeks. 

Joe Bongiorno will be in town to drive Slay from post five for trainer Tony Alagna. 

Molotov Cocktail (Chapter Seven-Moonlight Cocktail) was the NYSS 2-year-old male trotting champion last year and returned strong for his second campaign. He took an early season lifetime mark of 1:52.2 at the Meadowlands in an overnight event which is one of only two wins for him this year. But the second came last week in the $200,000 Earl Beal consolation at Mohegan Sun Pocono, where he scored in 1:52.4. In between he was beaten only 4-½ lengths in his Hambletonian elimination and although he didn't make the final, followed that up with a very impressive third in the $50,000 Muscle Hill at the Meadowlands where he was race timed in 1:51.4 after being parked most of the mile.

Molotov Cocktail has also encountered many tough trotters on the trail this year having faced off against Hambletonian winner Cool Papa Bell and Rebuff and his 2022 efforts put him 10th in North America for earnings among all 3-year-old male trotters. However because of his Grand Circuit schedule he has only two NYSS starts where he finished second both times. That currently puts him in a three way tie for eighth in points and he needs a top finish here to ensure a trip to the lucrative final at Tioga.

Brain Sears will drive for Hall of Fame trainer Linda Toscano and they will leave from post four. 

The fillies will go in two fields and there does appear to be a standout in each group. 

The first $55,900 division features Cash Infusion (Chapter Seven-Swing Anna Cash) who has had a very full dance card this year. She competed in the $187,500 Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs, $126,165 New York New York Mile at Yonkers Raceway, $123,000 Zweig Memorial at Vernon and $33,500 Continental Victory at the Meadowlands where she finished third and was race timed in 1:52.3. Plus she took money in all four of those events against very tough fillies like Joviality S and Jiggy Jog S while competing in much fuller fields. A big plus is her 1:57 lifetime mark that came on the half mile track at Saratoga earlier this spring. She did break at Monticello in her last start but recovered nicely to be beaten by only three lengths. 

Trained by George Ducharme, Cash Infusion will leave from post four with Tyler Buter at the lines. 

Looking to upset is In A Tiny Way (ConwayHall-Mc Tiny’s Hope) who was unraced at two but has had an outstanding year at three, starting with a win in her first stake engagement in a $15,000 Excel “A” race at Tioga Downs in a lifetime best 1:54.3. She has since gone on to do some of her best work on twice-arounds, winning in 1:57.3 at both Yonkers and Monticello Raceway, the latter in her last start which was a NYSS event.  

Jordan Stratton will drive from post two for trainer Mike Simons. 

Then in the $ 57,000-second leg, Valentina Blu (Chapter Seven-Corazon Blue Chip) comes in with the credentials to be a prohibitive betting favorite at post time. Last year she finished second in the $200,000 NYSS final to Joviality S, third to Venerable in the Mohawk Million and second in the $294,580 Kindergarten Classic making up the bulk of her $336,703 first-year earnings. This year she has only made five starts back thus far but two of those were NYSS wins. She also finished third in the $187,500 Empire Breeders Classic behind Joviality S and Bare My Soul, who she is currently tied with for top NYSS points in her division. After finishing sixth in the $123,000 Zweig she took a month off and won her first race back at Monticello in handy fashion. This is definitely a prep race for the finals for this filly. 

Joe Bongiorno will steer for trainer Tony Alagna from post two. 

Seven On The Rocks (Chapter Seven-Spicedbourbongirl) is a five-time winner this year but none have come in stake action despite being very competitive in his NYSS starts. She’s A Scorcher (Chapter Seven-Chilitodayhotamale) just got beat in 1:57.2 in a NYSS race at Buffalo in June but has since faced very formidable company over bigger tracks at both Oak Grove and The Red Mile in Kentucky Sire Stake action. Both will look to upset the probable favorite. 

John Stark Jr. trains and will drive Seven On The Rocks from post three while Jordan Stratton will drive Tony Alagna’s entry She’s A Scorcher from post five. 

The NYSS are carded as race one, three and eight. There are also four $15,000 Excel “A” series events carded as race two, four, five and six.

Friday’s card also features the 17th Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace that has a stellar field of eight top Open pacers slated to go postward in race nine for $75,000 which is the highest purse ever offered in this race. 

Post time for race one is 6 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Lisa Photo

Since shipping in from Saratoga Raceway, Shallow has taken her spot at the top of mare's colony at Batavia Downs after winning her second consecutive $15,000 Open I Handicap on Wednesday evening (Aug. 24). 

Dashintothebeach N (Luke Hanners) took an early lead heading to the quarter but Ray Fisher Jr. sent Shallow out early from third to grab the front at that station in :27.3. After crossing over she then slowed the pace to a tepid :30 second quarter before Tuapeka Jessie N (Jim Morrill Jr.) came first up in the breeze. 

Heading up the backside, Shallow maintained an easy lead with Dashintothebeach N in the pocket, and Tuapeka Jessie N and Shadow One (Kevin Cummings) on the outside chasing. Heading into the last turn, those challenges fell short as Shallow extended her lead to two lengths around the bend. When she turned for home, Shallow paced away from the field on her own volition to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:55. 

It was a career-best ninth win of the year for Shallow ($5.30) who now has $73,916 earned for owner Room4040 Stables. Andy Gardner trains the winner. 

Then in the $14,000 fillies and mares Open II Handicap, Canadian invader Saulsbrook Olympia (Dave McNieght III) grabbed the front and put on quite a show. With How About Murph (Kyle Cummings) and Sapphire Love Chip (Kevin Cummings) right behind trying to keep pace, Saulsbrook Olympia got to the half in :58.1 and then turned on the jets. She paced back-to-back quarters of :28.2 and :28.1 while opening up a 3-1/4 length advantage at the line where she won in 1:54.4. 

It was the second straight win at Batavia and third consecutive win going back to her impressive 1:50.3 outing at Woodbine Mohawk Park for Saulsbrook Olympia ($5.10) who is owned by William McNeil and Edward Gorc. Jennifer Giuliani trains the fast mare. 

Kevin Cummings was the leading driver of the night with three wins on the card and his third win came with the venerable 14-year-old Freaky Flyer. The Freak turned his 450th lifetime start into his 62nd career victory and pushed his total earnings to $370,549. Freaky Flyer ($12.00) is owned and trained by Rose Russo. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs with a special card on Friday night (Aug. 26) featuring New York Sire Stakes 3-year-old colt and filly trotters who will compete for $232,700 in purses and the 17th edition of Batavia Downs signature stake, the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial pace. Post time for the first race is at 6:00 p.m.

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.

Photo courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery