Stories from

Press release:

Two divisions of New York Sire Stake 2-year-old trotting colts converged at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Aug. 4) to compete for a total purse of $101,700 and when the dust settled, Molotov Cocktail stole the show with eye-popping domination in a runaway win. 

Six trotters went postward for $50,400 and Scotty Zeron left hard with Molotov Cocktail (Chapter Seven-Moonlight Cocktail) from post five and got parked three-deep to the quarter in :28.4. But that difficult opening had no effect whatsoever on the colt who cleared, opened up two lengths, and then proceeded to annihilate the field. 

Zeron hit the half in :58.3 and then backed off the third quarter to 1:28.3, but had also opened up a six-length lead at that point. Circling the final bend Molotov Cocktail stretched that margin to seven and then while Zeron sat chilly down the lane, the colt swelled up and extended his lead to 11 lengths at the light where he won in 1:57.4. 

It was the second win of the year for Molotov Cocktail ($4.30) and both came in NYSS action. The colt is owned by Richard Gutnik, Thomas Pontone and Gary Cocco. Hall of Famer Linda Toscano trains the winner. 

In the first $51,300 division, Quincy Market (E L Titan-Dance To Market) was a convincing gate to wire winner in a personal best effort. 

Corey Callahan left like a rocket from post six in the field of seven with Quincy Market and took the lead three strides into the race. After settling on the pylons halfway into the turn, Grand Spa (Scott Zeron) followed in second and after two horses behind them broke at the eighth pole scattering the field, these top two were ahead by 15 lengths and it basically became a match race. The 7-5 co-favorites then continued to trot one-two in a :59.3 half and 1:29.2 three-quarters.

Quincy Market looked strong on the point and had a three-length advantage over Grand Spa in the last turn. At the top of the stretch, Grand Spa was still gapped and then made an unfortunate break, taking him out of contention. From there, Quincy Market trotted home under mild urging from Callahan and was the easiest of winners in 1:59.3, which was a new lifetime mark. 

Quincy Market’s career outing was his second lifetime win, both coming in NYSS action and he hasn’t missed the board all year. Owned by Harmony Oaks Racing Stable, James Crawford IV, Berg Bros. Stable and the Yorwollahan Racing Team, Quincy Market ($4.90) is trained by John Butenschoen. 

Jason Bartlett had another stellar night at the Downs scoring four driving wins during the evening.  

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 7) with post time at 6:00 p.m.

Press release:

Racine Bell, who equaled the 4-year-old pacing mare world record of 1:48.1 at the Meadowlands in June and has been dominant in the Open class at Yonkers Raceway since spring, shipped into Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Aug. 4) and demolished the existing track record for aged pacing mares after a dominant gate to wire victory in 1:51.3 in the $11,200 Mares Open pace.

Jason Bartlett took no prisoners off the gate and set torrid fractions of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:23.3, extending her lead at each station while the rest of the field tried to keep up. But that was not going to happen on this night as Racine Bell accelerated around the last turn and put a copious amount of real estate between her and the competition. In full flight down the stretch, Bartlett urged on Racine Bell, who responded and paced home in :28 flat to win by eight lengths in 1:51.3. 

The previous track record was 1:53 set by Xenia Hanover in 2013. The 1:51.3 clocking was also only 2/5th’s of a second off the all-time pacing track record of 1:51.1 set by Aracache Hanover in 2011. 

It was the 10th win of the year in only 16 starts for Racine Belle ($2.10) and it pushed her 2021 earnings to $174,050 for owners Chris Lawton and Dale Lawton, David Dewhurst trains the winner. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 7) with post time at 6 p.m.

Press release:

The New York Sire Stakes will make their final visit to Batavia Downs for 2021 on Wednesday (Aug. 4) and will feature 2-year-old trotting colts competing for a total of $101,700 in purses. There will be a total of 13 going postward in two divisions and trotters from the stable of Hall of Fame trainer Linda Toscano are favored in each. 

In the first $51,300 division, Grand Spa has been tabbed the 2-1 favorite by the track handicapper and starts from post two. 

Grand Spa (E L Titan-Day At The Spa) has raced exclusively in the NYSS this year and has a win and two seconds to show for his efforts. The win was a lifetime mark of 1:57 taken at Vernon Downs where he won by 1-1/2 lengths. Last week at Tioga over a wet track he made a break off the gate and although he salvaged a second-place finish from the rough start, he futilely chased a runaway winner in Cool Papa Bell who was off by 7-1/4 lengths. He’s spotted well in here with the inside draw and looks like the one to beat. 

Scotty Zeron will be aboard Grand Spa once again this week. 

Quincy Market (E L Titan-Dance To Market) could possibly be the horse to beat Grand Spa because he did it on June 28 when he won an NYSS event at Yonkers in 2:00. Since then he has a second and third in series action but has also been trotting faster in those subsequent starts, albeit over larger tracks. Quincy Market has gate speed and likes the front and that should bode well for him here. The question that remains is can he close it out?

Corey Callahan leaves from post six with Quincy Market for trainer John Butenschoen and they have been made 3-1 morning line. 

The second division is worth $50,400 and the Toscano/Zeron tandem has Molotov Cocktail, which will start from post five and is listed as the favorite at 2-1 morning line. 

Molotov Cocktail (Chapter Seven-Moonlight Cocktail) copied his stablemate Grand Spa by taking an identical 1:57 lifetime mark at Vernon Downs on the same night but found himself up against a buzz-saw named Justice at Tioga last week who won in 1:55.4 there, which was the fastest of three splits. Molotov Cocktail raced well in that event and in fact, was race timed in an identical best 1:57, but finished fourth beaten six lengths. This field looks a bit more equal speed-wise so he should be very effective. 

The very close second choice at 5-2 is Velvet Style (Credit winner-Velvet’s Katie Bug) who tripped out behind that same Justice mile last week but couldn’t catch him either. However, Velvet Style did finish second and was race timed in 1:56.4, which was the fastest he has trotted all year. And Velvet Style is the only two-time winner in 2021 of the 13 entered in Wednesday’s stake. The horse can leave and this looks like a spot where he might. 

Jason Bartlett will drive Velvet Style from post six for trainer Mark Ford, who reached a milestone 4,000th training win on Sunday (Aug. 1). 

There are also two $15,000 Excel A races and one $6,500 Excel B race on the card Wednesday. Post time for the first race is 5 p.m.

Press release:

As a result of the heady drive by Shawn McDonough, Mugshots Bro made quick work of his competition and won the $11,200 Open Handicap trot at Batavia Downs on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 1). 

Mugshots Bro started widest in the scratch-shortened field of five and darted off the car and got the lead with no opposition at all. After scooting to the quarter in :28.3, McDonough grabbed leather and stifled the second panel to :30.3 as no one was mounting an attack. The four followers continued to do so around turn three and up the backstretch to the three-quarters where Mike Caprio finally pulled right line on All About Thechase from third and tried to advance, but Mugshots Bro had a 2-1/4 length lead at that point and maintained it around the last turn. As they headed down the lane All About Thechase and CR Blazin Beauty (Kevin Cummings) trotted sharply and did cut into the margin, but Mugshots Bro had the jump and wouldn’t be caught, crossing on top by 3/4’s of a length in 1:57.1. 

It was the first Open class victory of the year at Batavia Downs for Mugshots Bro ($3.80) and fifth Open of the year overall. With this win the 9-year-old gelded son of Jailhouse Jesse-Photo Emmy broke the quarter-million dollar mark and now boasts $252,046 in earnings for owners Herman Niedhammer Jr. and Herman Niedhammer. Shawn McDonough also trains the winner. 

McDonough ended the day with a training/driving double after winning with Best Ears (1:58, $3.00) in the 10th race. 

In the $10,000 Open II trot, Lunar Credit pulled off the upset after being a loose leader in a wire to wire win timed in 1:58.4. Trained by Jim McNeight, Lunar Credit is owned and driven by Jim McNeight Jr. and paid $14.40 to win. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday at 5 p.m. and there are several events of note for that session. 

The New York Sire Stakes will be in town with the 2-year-old trotting colts division going for a total purse of $101,700. 

And there is a $1,516 carryover in the Pick-5 wager that starts in the first race. Batavia Downs will be offering a guaranteed $5,000 pool for that wager in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. That means free program pages for the first five races will be available starting Monday at ustrotting.com under the handicapping tab and at bataviadownsgaming.com under the live racing tab. 

And don’t forget that free full card past performance programs are always available for download for every live racing night at Batavia Downs at bataviadownsgaming.com under the live racing tab.

Press release:

The entire community is invited to join the family and friends of Buddy Oderkirk to help save lives by donating blood through the American Red Cross on August 19, 2021, from 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. at The American Legion 53 West Main Street Le Roy, NY 14482 in his memory.

A 2014 graduate of Pavilion High School where he graduated 4th from his class, Buddy was a member of National Honor Society. He loved traveling and following his high school graduation he took an eleven day European vacation where he fell in love with the country of Switzerland. An accomplished wrestler throughout high school, Buddy began wrestling at the age of 6. He served as a mentor to many younger wrestlers and volunteered much of his time to ensure their success. He was a student at Genesee Community College with the aspirations to transfer to Monroe Community College to pursue a career as a dental hygienist. A member of Genesee County 4-H and the NIOGA Holstein Club. He enjoyed trading sports cards, playing fantasy football, and loved listening to music. 

Through out all of his treatment he never once complained and was always the epitome of grace, hope and most of all kindness. 

To know Buddy was to understand what it meant to be the bigger person and to always remain true to 

who you are regardless of the circumstances. Buddy was diagnosed with 4th stage Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma in May 2015 just before his 18th birthday he was determined to beat it and went into a 54 week treatment  plan with a tenacity that left many in admiration. Buddy, unfortunately, lost his battle on November 15, 2016.  As his Mom I am so proud of the young man he was and I always say the he made me a better person. This blood drive is to honor the strength and memory of a truly amazing young man who touched so many lives in his short lifetime. 

According to the Red Cross, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. All blood types are needed.

Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Press release:

The New York Sire Stakes visited Batavia Downs on Wednesday (July 28) with both genders of 3-year-old pacers competing in four divisions for a total of $225,000. With excellent efforts put in by the entire group, Town Gossip stole the show as he tied the track record for 3-year-old pacing geldings with an impressive 1:52.2 effort. 

Joe Bongiorno and Town Gossip (American Ideal-Fibbertigibbet) battled with Major Bean (Matt Kakaley) to the quarter but got the lead by that pole in :27.3 and from there, he just kept going. With no one pulling right lines until the five-eighths, Southwind Petyr (Jason Bartlett) made the first move and could only advance to second on the rim at the three-quarters where the clock showed 1:24.1. Town Gossip started to pull away in the final bend and when they hit the stretch, he swelled up and paced away to a 2-1/4 length win in 1:52.2, which equaled the track record for 3-year-old pacing geldings. 

“The best two horses were on the outside so I wasn’t sure how it was going to shape up. Jason (Bartlett, driving Southwind Petyr) dropped in the three-hole and I went to the front. My horse is usually lazy but today on the front he kept to his task on his own pretty well. I knew the horse from behind would give me a run but we didn’t have to go a crazy third quarter and he was pretty wrapped up at the wire,” said Bongiorno.  

It was the third straight win for Town Gossip ($3.50) and it pushed his earnings for this year to $91,588 for owner Robert Weinstein. Jenn Bongiorno trains the winner. 

The other group of colts and geldings saw the 2-year-old NYSS male pacing champion, King James Express (Art Major-More Diamonds), make a statement for more year-end laurels this year. 

I’ll Drink To That (Jim Morrill Jr.) was a strong leaver and dictated the pace for most of the mile. After a speedy: 27.1 quarter, Morrill backed down the next two panels substantially and that’s when King James Express (Jason Bartlett) pulled from third and started to advance. As they went around the last turn, King James Express was wearing down I’ll Drink To That and when they hit the stretch, King James Express had the better foot and paced to the wire with a ½ length victory in 1:53.4.

“In a well-timed move with him he’s pretty fast and he’s great with a target. So I always have to make sure he has a target. When I moved him I thought I was a winner. He’s been getting better and better every start since he qualified this spring and with his progress, he should be very good for the final,” said Bartlett. 

King James Express ($6.50) won his second straight and now has banked $81,605 this year for owners Mark Harder, Deena Frost, Wayne Carleton and Dean Lockhart. Harder also trains the winner. 

The definite star of the entire filly division was Heart Of Mine (Roll With Joe-Aquavella) who claimed her eighth win of the year in the easiest of fashion.

Scotty Zeron left and floated his way to the lead in :28.2 and cleared just past that station. With no opposition from there, he backed down the half to :58.1 and the race was basically over at that point. Heart Of Mine continued on the second circuit and maintained a 1-¾ length lead up the backstretch, around the last turn and heading into the stretch where she extended it to almost three. Down the lane Zeron had Heart Of Mine wrapped up and pacing with authority to win in 1:53.4 at the beam. 

“She’s pretty nice. She’s extremely professional out there so she can position herself, good gaited so she gets around the turns well and she’s so easy to drive. She’s doing it pretty easy right now and she’s not breaking a sweat so we’ll see how she is going forward,” said Zeron. 

Hall of Famer Linda Toscano trains Heart Of Mine ($2.40) for owners The Bay’s Stable, Radio Racing Stable, Fred Wallace and the Camelot Stable. The filly now has $176,916 made this year and went to $308,331 lifetime in only 20 starts. 

The first filly division went to Summer Rae (Roll With Joe-Solar Eclipse) who put in another solid effort. 

Bartlett went right for the lead with Summer Rae and looked very strong on the point. The field followed single-file through fractions of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:24.4, with Party Queen (Matt Kakaley) tracking from second. Kakaley pulled off the far turn and charged the leader in the stretch. But Summer Rae hung tough and won by 1/4 of a length in 1:54. 

“She got a little hot on me on the second turn and third turn, so I was a little bit concerned with that. So we were going more than we were forced to go and at the wire, she got a little tired, But in the lane she hung pretty tough once the horses got to her so I was pretty pleased with that,” said Bartlett. 

It was the third win in the last five starts for Summer Rae ($3.60) and owners Kathleen Whitaker, Charles Rowe, Paul Land and Tom Fanning, who also trains the filly. 

Besides winning two of the four NYSS events, Bartlett also won two Excel A divisions to register the Grand Slam on the night.