Sports

Pembroke kept the game close in the first half, allowing C.G. Finney only 14 points while scoring 7 of their own.  The second half was compleatly different.  Finney scored 21 more points before Pembroke scored again.  Final was 35-13.

(Photo of Luck Be Withyou courtesy of Curtis Salonick) 

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Seven horses with a combined lifetime earnings of over $11 million comprise the field for the 14th annual $50,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace which will be contested at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 8).

The Kane Memorial is dedicated to the former chairman of the board of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation (which owns and operates Batavia Downs), Robert J. Kane. Kane worked on the board for 26 years and had the vision to see the value in purchasing the track in 1998, that had been shuttered for three years after having its license revoked. The facility has gone through a complete turnaround since then and WROTB has developed the property into the premier entertainment destination spot in Genesee County.

The 2016 edition of the Kane (which goes as race seven) is also a homecoming of sorts for trainer Chris Oakes who is originally from nearby Akron. He started his career at the Downs in the 1980s and conditions two horses in this year's Kane, with his stable star Luck Be Withyou installed as the 5-2 morning line choice.

Luck Be Withyou has faced Wiggle It Jiggleit and Always B Miki many times this year and has always been formidable competition for those two dominant aged pacers. Luck Be Withyou took a lifetime mark of 1:47.4 at Pocono Downs on July 2 and has also been race-timed under 1:50 on seven other occasions this year. His best effort on a half-mile track was a 1:51.1 win at Saratoga Raceway in July, but he was race-timed in 1:50.3 at Harrington Raceway just two weeks ago.  

Leaving from post one, Luck Be Withyou will be driven by the Downs leading reinsman, Kevin Cummings.

Mel Mara is the second choice at 7-2 and is one speedy pacer. On June 4 at the Meadowlands, he beat a very talented Open class field and equalled the all-time race record for an older pacing stallion on a mile track when he stopped the clock in 1:47. In his 21 starts this year, Mel Mara was race timed under 1:50 15 times and his best effort over a half-mile track was a 1:50.1 win at Harrington Raceway three starts ago.

Jim Morrill Jr. takes the reins for trainer Dylan Davis and starts from post three.

Scott Rocks comes in sharp as a tack and knows this oval well. He just raced at Batavia Downs on Sept. 24 and jogged in 1:52. He was a wrapped up winner with a lot left in the tank and he did it after being off for three weeks. He took a lifetime mark of 1:48 at Pocono Downs on May 28, but he also won in a phenomenal 1:49 clocking at Northfield Park on Sept. 3.

Leaving from post two, John Cummings Jr. will once again team Scott Rocks, who is the other entrant for trainer Chris Oakes.

Southwind Amazon is fast on any surface. He took a lifetime mark of 1:49.2 at Pompano Park on March 13, but was also race timed in 1:49.2 at Northfield Park in a second place finish to Scott Rocks on Sept. 3. He has also won in 1:50.3 at Northfield and 1:50.4 at Saratoga Raceway. Southwind Amazon is having a career year with 11 wins and $109,599 earned and looks to add to those numbers in this event.

Shawn Mcdonough gets the nod from trainer Paul Holzman and will depart from post five.

The entire field is as follows:

1 Luck Be Withyou      Kevin Cummings       5-2

2 Scott Rocks              John Cummings Jr.   5-1

3 Mel Mara                  Jim Morrill Jr.             7-2

4 Polak A                     Shawn Gray              4-1

5 Southwind Amazon  Shawn McDonough   9-2

6 Foiled Again              Jack Flanigen           8-1

7 Rockin In Heaven      Drew Monti               6-1

The current all-time pacing track record at Batavia Downs is 1:51.1 set by Aracache Hanover in 2011 when he won the Kane Memorial that year. In recent weeks, the track at Batavia Downs has been lightning fast and with favorable weather forecast, this field has the ability to demolish that standard.

There is also an outstanding undercard on Saturday night’s 11-race schedule and it includes the $15,000 Brian Schroeder Memorial Trot, to go as race five.

Local favorite BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) is the 5-2 pick to hit against Yonkers Raceway invaders Lady’s Dude (Kevin Cummings, 3-1) and Auspicious Hanover (John Cummings Jr., 4-1). 

Post time for the first race is 6:15 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The draw for Wednesday (Oct. 12), which was originally scheduled for Friday (Oct. 7), has been postponed until Saturday morning (Oct. 8) at 9 a.m. The box will remain open for all classes until that time. 

If you have already entered your horse(s), they do not need to be re-entered. 

Also please note, as a result of this schedule change, horseman will have approximately one hour after the draw takes place on Saturday to make any program changes.

If you have any questions, please contact the race office at 585-344-6161.

(Photo of Kaitlyn Akeeper with driver Jim Morrill Jr.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

After dropping down from Open company and back into the claiming ranks, Kaitlyn Akeeper ($4.10) hung on to win the $7,800 mares pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Oct. 5).

Jim Morrill Jr. shot off the gate and put Kaitlyn Akeeper on the lead and set early fractions of :27.4 and :57. At the five-eighths pole, Mayabelle (Kevin Cummings) pulled first over and applied pressure on the outside for the rest of the race. The group moved to three-quarters in 1:26.4 before rounding the turn and pacing down the lane. With just a length separating them, Mayabelle was outside, Kaitlyn Akeeper in the middle and Missevil (Shawn Gray) was on the pylons after getting the two-hole trip. But Kaitlyn Akeeper toughed it out and won by a neck over Missevil in 1:55. Mayabelle finished third.

It was the sixth win in 2016 for Kaitlyn Akeeper and the purse boosted her annual earnings to $41,372 for owner Mike Torcello. The 4-year-old American Ideal mare is trained by Gerry Sarama.

Ray Fisher Jr. had a big night, winning four races on the card; three of which provided substantial payoffs. He scored with Chrome finish ($14, 2:00), Sobhon Hanover ($26, 1:59.1), Twin B Sportsman ($3.90, 1:55) and Artistic Topaz ($28.20, 1:57.2).

Jim Morrill Jr. had a driving triple and Shawn Gray doubled up for the night. Trainers Gerry Sarama and John Mungillo also both sent two winners for pictures.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 7) with post time at 6:15 p.m.

(Photo of Highview Conall N with driver Jim Morrill Jr.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

An all-day rain left the track sloppy for the card at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 1), but some of the fastest times of the meet were recorded during the evening. None the least the one Highview Conall N registered while winning the $10,000 featured Open pace at the Genesee County oval.

The red-hot Jim Morrill Jr. fired the New Zealand bred off the gate and to the lead as the rest of the field watched in single-file fashion. After fractions of :27.3 and :56.2, Highview Conall N and the second place Heaven Rocks (Kevin Cummings) had a two-horse breakaway in place as they opened up six-lengths on the rest of the field while motoring up the backside.

As those two continued to compete alone, Knocking Around (Dave McNeight III) pulled from fourth and started to close the distance with the leader. Around the far turn, Highview Conall N was widening the gap between himself and Heaven Rocks as Knocking around was closing it from third. When they straightened out down the lane it was Highview Conall N pacing strong to the wire for a 1:53.2 win with Knocking Around closing well for second over Heaven Rocks.

It was the eighth win of the year for Highview Conall N ($4.10) and it raised his annual income to $74,770. The 7-year-old son of Christian Cullen was a recent acquisition for owner/trainer Nick Gampietro Jr., who purchased him privately on September 26.

For the second night in a row, John Cummings Jr. scored a driving grand slam. He returned to the Purple Haze winner’s circle with Cheyenne Louie ($6.70, 1:54.4), Normandy Invasion ($2.70, 1:54.4), Youwillwishyouhad ($63.00, 1:55.1) and Bags of Money ($6.00, 1:57.4).

Jim Morrill Jr. was a close second with a triple and Drew Monti came through with two. Trained JD Perrin also conditioned two winners on the night.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Oct. 5) with the first post set at 6:15.

Photo of Justgottogetthere with driver Jim Morrill Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Justgottogetthere was one of the best resident trotters in western New York last year, however 2016 has been a bit of a different story. But it was like old times for the gelding on Friday night (Sept. 30) as he won the $10,500 Open trotting feature at Batavia Downs.

Justgottogetthere (Jim Morrill Jr.) went right to the front at the start of the race and remained there until the end. While setting early panels of :28.2 and :58.4, the only challenge the leader got came from Snapshot Springs (Drew Monti) who pulled near the half and tried to engage the front. But the closest he could get was a half-length from second seated Noble Legend (Shawn Gray) who was tracking there the whole mile. After they hit three-quarters in 1:27.2, Justgottogetthere got busy and extended his lead around the far turn and just trotted away in the lane to win by three in 1:57.1.

Noble Legend was second and Snapshot Springs finished third.

It was the fourth win of the year and a seasonal mark for Justgottogetthere ($11.20), and the first trip to the winner’s circle with him for new owner Mike Torcello, who privately purchased the son of Valley Victor on Sept. 3^rd. Gerry Sarama trains Justgottogetthere.

In the co-featured $8,500 Open II trot, Serious George ($5.50) came early to press the front running Socialdelight (Ray Fisher Jr.) before running her down to win in 1:57.4. Serious George is owned by James Palladino and is trained by Richard Mays.

John Cummings Jr. won four races Friday night. He had pictures taken with Gun Show ($4, 1:56.2), Hez a Buckeye ($5.60, 1:59), V I P ($9.20, 2:02) and Northern Matador ($13.20, 1:59).

Shawn Gray and Jim Morrill Jr. both chimed in with two wins apiece.

The Batavia Downs early Pick-5 which on Friday was part of the USTA Strategic Wager with a guaranteed $4,000 pool, recorded the track’s largest handle ever by 50%. The 3-2-1-2-6 combination returned $202.00.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Oct. 1) with a guaranteed early Pick-5 pool of $1,500. Post time is 6:15.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs Racetrack joins the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering program Friday night (Sept.30) with the early Pick-5 pool guaranteed at $4,000.

The early Pick-5 which kicks off in race one, has an actual carryover of $2,422 and post time for that race is set at 6:15 p.m.

The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base wager that includes races one through five during every racing program. It has no consolation payoff; meaning if no one selects all five winners, the entire pool moves to the late Pick-5, which begins with race 7.

Program pages for the early Pick-5 races made available courtesy of Trackmaster can be found at http://handicapping.ustrotting.com

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Wednesday night (Sept. 28) was a return to form for My Tallia Ideal when she came from off the pace to take the lead and fend off a late challenge to capture the featured $9,500 mares Open pace at Batavia Downs.

Kaitlyn Akeeper (Jim Morrill Jr.) left for the lead around Memumsnotnice (Kevin Cummings) while My Tallia Ideal (Dave McNeight III) went from fifth to third and tucked. Positions remained unchanged through fractions of :27.2 and :56.2 when My Tallia Ideal pulled first over past the clubhouse with Who Says That (Shawn Gray) on her back. 

My Tallia Ideal eventually pulled alongside Kaitlyn Akeeper at the three-quarters before going right on by in the far turn. But just as it looked like she was going to pull away, Who Says That tipped around and came hard at her in the stretch. The two dueled head to head all the way down the lane and hit the wire near simultaneously, but the photo showed My Tallia Ideal was the victor by a nose in 1:54.1.

The win was the seventh of the year for My Tallia Ideal ($2.80) and it pushed her earnings to $51,375 for owners Peter Kibler, Kenneth Owczarczak and Courtney McNeight. The 8-year-old Western Ideal mare is trained by Dave McNeight Jr.

Ray Fisher Jr. had a driving grand slam Wednesday, winning with Wicked Elphaba ($6.40), Purple N Gold ($17.40), Prince Jubilee ($10.80) and Val’s Jett ($2.60). Wade Tomaszewski and Jim Morrill Jr. both scored driving doubles.

Trainers Richard Tomaszewski and Richard Lareau both sent two students to the winner’s enclosure.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Sept. 30) with the first post set for 6:15. On Friday, the early Pick-5 (Races 1 to 5) starts with a guaranteed pool of $4,000.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

In the featured $10,000 Open pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 24), the only race was for second as the heavily favored invader, Scott Rocks led at all stations en route to registering the fastest pacing mile of the year at the Genesee County oval.

John Cummings Jr. left with Scott Rocks and after easing him through a brutally sunlit first turn, got his horse in gear on the back straight and took the lead by the quarter in :27.4. As soon as he crossed over to the pylons, Cummings popped the plugs and took a reclined posture in the bike as he became a passenger for the rest of his ride.

Scott Rocks was up by one and one-half lengths at the half in :56.2 and by two at three-quarters in 1:23.4. With the rest of the field scrambling to keep up at that point, the leader opened up three lengths under mild urging from Cummings and won wrapped-up in 1:52.

China Dream (Shawn Gray) closed strong to catch second and Heaven Rocks (Kevin Cummings), who followed the winner the entire mile, hung on for third.

It was the ninth win of the year, including three straight most recently for Scott Rocks ($2.50) and the purse increased his 2016 bank to $133,374 for owners Susan Oakes and Chuck Pompey. The 6-year-old gelded son of Rocknroll Hanover is trained by Chris Oakes.

John Cummings Jr. had a driving grand slam on Saturday winning with Scott Rocks ($2.50, 1:52), Keystone Dalton ($3.10, 1:55), Foreign Officer ($4.30, 1:54.1) and Untouchable One ($3.40, 1:56).

Drew Monti had a driving triple while Ray Fisher Jr. doubled up. 

Trainer JD Perrin conditioned three winning horses on the night.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Sept. 28) with the first post at 6:15.