Sports

Two Opens totaling $26,000 were on tap at Batavia Downs on Saturday (October 19) night and a show of force was displayed by both winners.

The $13,000 Open pace went first and was scratched down to a five-horse field that Livonjaxsandqueens (Jim McNeight Jr.) beat from start to finish.

McNeight pushed Livonjaxsandqueens to the fore and settled on the lead passing the :28 quarter. With Comet Crusader N (Shawn McDonough) following from second, Livonjaxsandqueens got to the half in :57.3 and three-quarters in 1:26.2 where the top two lost touch with the rest of the field. Livonjaxsandqueens spun through the final bend and at the top of the stretch, Comet Crusader N pulled and tried to catch the leader. But he came up a half length short as Livonjaxsandqueens crossed first in 1:54.3.

It was the sixth win of the year for Livonjaxsandqueens ($5.70) who is owned by Howard Ouriel and trained by Jim Rothfuss.

Then in the $13,000 Open Handicap trot, El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) poured it as he thumped the competition.

City Of Hope (John Cummings Jr.) grabbed the lead at the quarter but almost immediately, El Toro Loco took it from him and for all intents and purposes, the race was over at that point. El Toro Loco had an easy 1-½ length advantage to the half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:26.3. Then coming out of the last turn, El Toro Loco bolted from the field and stretched out to a 5-½ length margin at the beam that he broke in 1:56.2.

El Toro Loco ($7.90) is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith.

Kevin Cummings ended the night with a total of three wins while Sam Smith concluded the card with two. Darrin Monti also had two wins and joined Smith as the top trainers for the night.

The Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta was hit the last race. The single unique combination of 1-6-9-5-2 returned $7,090.10 for a 20-cent wager.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (October 23) with post time at 6 p.m.

Free full card 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.

Making his second start at Batavia Downs since competing in the Ontario Sire Stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park over the summer, the 3-year-old Slayin Theday Away took on older foes and found the local winner’s circle for the first time after he won the featured $9,500 trot on Friday (October 18) night.

Slayin Theday Away (Drew Monti) grabbed the lead at the quarter and led the group of seven to the half in 1:01. It was there that Run Like Hill (Joe Chindano Jr.) pulled from fifth and made his way to the lead passing the five-eighths pole. Run Like Hill had the lead, but could not cross over as Slayin Theday Away continued to fight up the backstretch.

Run Like Hill tripped the timer in 1:29.1 at three-quarters with Slayin Theday Away still second on the pegs and a half length behind. As they spun through the last turn, Slayin Theday Away got back even with Run Like Hill and at the top of the stretch, completed a stellar comeback by taking the lead and keeping it by 1-¼ lengths at the light in 1:59.1.

It was the eighth win of the year for Slayin Theday Away ($2.70) who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags, Team Rice Racing and Dr. Michael Miller. Maria Rice trains the winner.

Monti, Rice and Vogel and Wags Nags also teamed up to win with Jacked (1:57.3, $2.90) earlier in the card.

The top drivers on Friday were Jim McNeight Jr. and Joe Chindano Jr. who both registered three wins during the proceedings. Jim McNeight got two training wins to match Rice as top conditioner.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (October 19) with post time at 6 p.m. and there will be a $4,853 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 12th race.

Free full card 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.

Pembroke beat Attica on Wednesday in five games as part of the Digging for Domes Fundraiser. 

Scors: 26-24, 21-25, 25-22, 20-25, 18-16

Onolee Easterbrook had 16 kills, 3 blocks, 3 digs and an ace. Reagan Schneider had 15 kills,  8 digs and a block. Brianna Reynalds added 10 kills and 10 digs.

From Attica, Morgan Borycki had 28 digs, 1 kill and 4 aces. Carlene Domes had 9 kills, 5 aces, 1 assist and digs. Morgan Jackson added 14 digs, 4 aces and 2 kills. 

Oakfield-Alabama beat Lyndonville in Volleyball on Thursday three sets to zero.

Set scores:

• Set 1: OA - 25     L - 14
• Set 2: OA - 25     L - 15
• Set 3: OA - 25     L - 18

Stats:

• Senior, Jess Sosnowski - 7 aces, 16 assists, 5 digs
• Senior, Cara Williams - 6 kills, 3 aces, 3 digs
• Junior, Ava Caton - 8 digs
• Junior, Cali Cramer - 10 digs
• Junior, Aimee Demmer - 4 digs

Forgot Thewallet A made quick and easy work of her six female foes after walking away with a victory in the $11,000 conditioned pace for fillies and mares at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (October 16) night.

Dave “Triple Sticks” McNeight III flew off the wings with Forgot Thewallet A and set a tempo no one in the race could compete with. Forgot Thewallet A set fractions of :27.2, :57.2 and 1:25.1 while maintaining a growing lead at each station. After rounding the last bend under no duress whatsoever, Forgot Thewallet A paced home under wraps to win by 2-¼ lengths in 1:54.4 on a very chilly night in Genesee County.

It was the ninth win of the year for Forgot Thewallet A ($3.30) who is owned by Dr. Michael Miller and Team Rice Racing. Maria Rice trains the Australian expatriate.

When the 12-year-old pacing gelding Angelo J Fra ($4.60) won the seventh race in 1:58.1, he registered the 60th win of his stellar career while pushing his lifetime earnings to $640,688. Angelo J Fra is owned by Eva Saintcross and Megan Wilson and trained by Shawn McDonough.

Drew Monti was the leading driver on Wednesday, scoring a grand slam during the night. Monti won with Naked Truth (1:58.2, $4.10), Millie’s Spirit (1:59, $13.60), Madison Queen (1:58.4, $3.90) and Mako Me rich (1:58.2, $8.60).

On the training side, Chris Petrelli also had a big night. He saw three from his stable go for win pictures, namely Artistic Spirit (1:57.2, $3.60), the aforementioned Mako Me Rich and Michelle’s Jazz (1:57.1, $5.20).

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (October 18) with post time at 6 p.m. and there will be a $4,287 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 13th race.

Free full card 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.

Nimble New Zealand-breds took center stage at Batavia Downs as they won the top two paces of the week on Saturday (October 12) night.

In the night’s main event, Vulcan Star N (Kevin Cummings) got his second straight at The Downs in the $13,000 Open Handicap pace.

Vulcan Star N sat second behind Livonjaxandqueens (Jim McNeight Jr.) through quarters of :27.4, :57.1 and 1:25.1 while post time favorite Lip Reader N (Drew Monti) applied outside pressure to three-quarters. Lip Reader N’s bid fell apart in the final turn, leaving Livonjaxandqueens in front by 1-½ lengths heading into the stretch. But Cummings tipped Vulcan Star N off his cover and aggressively drove him down the lane to eventually catch Livonjaxandqueens by a head in the shadow of the wire in 1:54.

Vulcan Star N ($16.80) is owned by his trainer Mike Deters, in partnership with Joel Warner, John Spindler and Michael Paulson.

Then in the $12,000 Open II pace, Melanion N (Drew Monti) turned a second-half move into a romp at the line.

Melanion N got away fourth as Carrythetorchman (Joe Chindano Jr.) led to the half in :56.1. That is where Monti pulled Melanion N into the breeze and started a methodic march towards the leader. Incrementally reeling in Carrythetorchman up the backside, Melanion N drew alongside his target in the last bend and edged ahead of Carrythetorchman as they straightened for home. From there, Melanion N bolted to the wire as Monti sat chilly and won by 4-¼ lengths in 1:53 , giving the gelding a new lifetime mark.

Melanion N ($3.20) is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags, Team Rice Racing and Dr. Michael Miller. Maria Rice trains the winner.

Horse people scoring two wins on Saturday include drivers John Cummings Jr., Kevin Cummings, Kyle Cummings, Drew Monti and Kyle Swift and trainer Maria Rice.  

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (October 16) with post time at 6 p.m. and there will be a $3,618 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 13th race.

Free full card 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.

Oakfield-Alabama/Elba beat Alexander in Girls Soccer on Thursday, 5-0.

Scoring:

• Alahna Chatt 2 goals
• Lydia Ross 1 goal
• Gracie Smith 1 Goal
• Piper Hyde 1 Goal 1 Assist
• Maddie Hall 1 Assist
• Erin List 1 Assist
• Ava Buczek 1 Assist

Press Release:

A pair of $9,500 conditioned trots were featured Friday (October 11) at Batavia Downs on a night that saw winds gusting over 40 mph down the lane.

In the first contest, All About Thechase (Jim McNeight Jr.) sat second while Franks Watching (Ray Fisher Jr.) did all the heavy lifting during the mile. After getting to the half in 1:02.2, Franks Watching was under siege from Slayin Theday Away (Drew Monti) from the half to three-quarters, who was joined by Famous Dan (Kevin Cummings) moving three-wide in the final turn. But it was the tripping All About Thechase who quietly ducked into the passing lane and out-trotted them all to the line where he won by a neck in 2:01.3.

It was the second win in a row for All About Thechase ($11.20) who is owned by the Caprio Stable and trained by Alana Caprio.  

The second group saw the off-time favorite Skyway Professor (Dave McNeight III) get away sixth early. But he also got underway quickly at three-eighths in pursuit of the loose leader Rough Tuff Tested (Jim McNeight Jr.), who was rolling to the half in :59. Skyway Professor advanced to second on the outside next to Hellrider (Mike Caprio), but was still 2-3/4 lengths behind the leader at three-quarters. However Skyway Professor started cutting into that lead around the last turn and drew alongside Rough Tuff Tested in the stretch. From there, Skyway Professor got the advantage in deep stretch and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.1.

It was the ninth win of the year for Skyway Professor ($4.00) who is owned by the Out In The Country Stable and Daniel Tybor and trained by Jim Rothfuss.

Driver Joe Chindano Jr. had a grand slam during the night, winning with Arrakis (2:00.4, $3.90), Run Like Hill (2:01, $3.70), Lootable (1:56.1, $83.00) and Tidal shark (1:58.1, $2.90). Arrakis and Run Like Hill were trained by Francis Guillemette, who led all conditioners for wins on Friday.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (October 12) with post time at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a $641 carryover in the Pick-5 in the first race and also a $3,207 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 12th race.

Free full card 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.

Summer Slash took advantage of a step back from last week’s Open into a lower conditioned event at Batavia Downs, where she power-moved to victory in the $12,500 fillies and mares pacing feature on Wednesday (October 9) night.

Center Attraction (Jim McNeight Jr.) took the lead passing the quarter and took the field to the half in a pedestrian :59. That prompted True That (Kevin Cummings) to move to the outside and summer Slash (Ray Fisher Jr.) took advantage of the cover from fifth. As the field bunched at three-quarters, Fisher tipped Summer Slash three-wide in the last turn and when they hit the stretch, she was gone. Summer Slash paced to the line clear by two in 1:57 over the rain-soaked track rated as good.

It was the fourth win of the year for Summer Slash ($8.80) who is owned by Ilovemyharnesshorsesummer and trained by Ryan Swift.

There were also two $9,500 conditioned paces for distaff competitors.

In the first, NY Hardcore (Bradley Jackson) sat behind Casie’s Believer (Joe Chindano Jr.) for seven-eighths of the mile before tipping into the passing lane and brushing to the line first by a half length in 1:58.3. Casie’s Believer ($5.20) is owned by Sonia Joly and trained by Francis Guillemette.

The second was won by Won Surreal Deal (Kyle Cummings) who pulled first-over at the half to take the lead from Lookatmyart (Kevin Cummings) and then pull away from the field in the stretch by four lengths to win in 1:55.4. Won Surreal Deal ($6.60) is owned by Parsimonious Racing Stable and trained by Jeff Sorenson.

Driver Kyle Cummings and trainer Chris Petrelli each scored a hat trick to lead their respective categories on Wednesday.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (October 11) with post time at 6 p.m. and there will be a $2,699 carryover and the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 13th race.

Free full card 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.