Photo of Louie The Lilac courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
Despite his current sharp racing form, Louie The Lilac was grossly overlooked at the windows and sent off at 21-1. However the punter’s snub didn’t faze “Louie” as she blew up the tote board after winning the $13,000 Open Handicap pace for fillies and mares at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (October 2) evening.
Louie The Lilac (Shawn McDonough) got away fourth as Won Surreal Deal (Kyle Cummings), It’s Corona Time (Joe Chindano Jr.) and Oaxacan Dream N (Dave McNeight III) all left and paced three abreast around the first turn. As they headed up the backstretch, It’s Corona Time opted out to third while Oaxacan Dream N forged ahead for a long journey as Won Surreal Deal owned the lead at the pegs and wasn’t going to relent. These top two paced to the half in :55.1 before Oaxacan Dream N began to tire from the airing.
As the race approached five-eighths, Louie The Lilac tipped out from third and drew alongside It’s Corona Time as both were still chasing Won Surreal Deal heading to three-quarters. Won Surreal Deal opened up two lengths in the last turn, where Louie The Lilac pulled ahead of It’s Corona Time and then went back to the pylons. At the top of the stretch, McDonough dipped Louie The Lilac into the passing lane and bolted past the tiring Won Surreal Deal to win by a length in a season’s best, 1:54.1.
Louie The Lilac ($45.80) is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith.
McDonough, Smith and Torcello also won the $11,000 with True That, who came from nowhere to swoop the group.
True That got away sixth while Shooting Brooke (Joe Chindano Jr.) marched off quarters of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:25.4. At that last station, Dark Eclipse N (Drew Monti) tipped from second to go after the leader and True That was still sixth and third-over in the outer flow. At the top of the stretch, Dark Eclipse N took the lead and looked like a winner. But True That came from the clouds, five wide in the middle of the track and zoomed by everyone to win at the line in 1:55.3.
It was the third win in a row for True That ($11.20).
Besides the two top paces, the owner/trainer combination of Torcello and Smith also lit up the board two other times on Wednesday, as their barn continues to be red hot. Joining their stablemates Louie The Lilac and True That in victory were Scenic Adventure (1:55.1, $3.60) and Stonebridge Hypnos (1:56, $3,50).
Drew Monti was a wizard at the reins on Wednesday, scoring a grand slam during the night, including a natural hat trick in races 12, 13 and 14. Monti won with Bet I’m Lucky (1:56, $17.60), Embrace The Rust (2:01.4, $8.70), Shake me Loose (1:57.1, $5.20) and the already mentioned Stonebridge Hypnos.
Monti now sits one win shy of career win 2,500, which he has an excellent chance of getting this Friday (October 4) when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs at 6 p.m. Friday will also feature a $1,115 carryover and the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 14th 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.
With no one hitting the Pick-5 wager again at Batavia Downs on Saturday (September 28) night, there is a $2,112 carryover for that wager in the first race on Wednesday (Oct. 2) night at The Downs and track management has announced that pool will be guaranteed at $7,500 through the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. Post time for the first race on Wednesday is 6 p.m.
As part of the program, Trackmaster is offering free full past performance programs on the USTA website through this link (https://www.trackmaster.com/freeContent/usta/freeContentFiles/hpl/btv1002x.pdf).
The Pick-5 at Batavia Downs is a 50-cent minimum wager that begins in race one and runs through race five. If all five winners aren’t selected, the carryover amount will then move to the Friday (Oct. 4) night program.
And as always, 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.
Photo of Power And Grace courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
There was a pair of $13,500 Open Handicap races highlighting the Saturday (September 28) night card at Batavia Downs and the winners of each put in stout efforts in victory on a rain-soaked night in Genesee County.
The Open pace was up first and won by Villiam (Joe Chindano Jr.), who was challenged at every step of the mile.
Villiam took the lead off the gate and crossed-over to the pylons in the first turn. But before he could get to the quarter, Melanion N (Drew Monti) had worked his way up from seventh and was pacing alongside the leader. Melanion N took the lead at three-eighths, but Villiam didn’t allow him enough room to clear so the parked pacer was forced to remain in the breeze. Villiam and Melanion N matched strides to the half in :55.4 and continued to battle onto the second circuit.
As they passed five-eighths, Mirragon N (Shawn McDonough) had moved into contention from the back of the pack and tipped three-wide around Melanion N at three-quarters. As Melanion N started to fade, Mirragon N took the lead from Villiam, but once again Villiam refused to let the horse clear. The pair paced step for step around the last turn until Villiam pulled ahead by a length at the top of the stretch and maintained that advantage to the wire where he won in 1:53.1, which was a new easonal mark.
Villiam ($5.40) got his fifth win of the year for his owner Anthony Evgenikos and trainer Maggie Chindano.
Chindano finished the night with a total of three driving wins.
Three races later, the Open trot was won by the only mare in the field of eight, Power And Grace (Drew Monti), who led at every step of the way to turn away all her male rivals.
Power And Grace left from post seven, grabbed the front and proceeded to dictate the rest of the race. After going comfortable quarters of :29.1, :58.4 and 1:28 without any serious challenge from behind, Power And Grace entered the home stretch and simply pulled away from the field by 2-½ lengths in 1:57.4.
It was the 11th win of the year -- and 67th lifetime -- for Power And Grace ($4.20) who is owned by Hartel Maintenance, Lorner McClure, Brett MacDonald and Reg Higgs. Ronald MacDonald was the winning trainer.
Kevin Cummings was top dog in the bike on Saturday, scoring a grand slam at the lines. Cummings won with Dry Ridge Ace (1:57, $3.10), Dogfight (1:56.1, $17.00), Bet Eightthirtyone (1:57.1, $7.80) and Parmesan N (1:57.1, $3.00).
Ryan Hall was the top conditioner, sending two winners postward.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (October 2) with post time at 6:00 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.
Photo of Curry Hanover courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
The marquee event at Batavia Downs on Friday (September 27) night was a $10,000 conditioned claiming trot where Curry Hanover (Shawn McDonough) turned in one spicy performance to dominate his seven rivals.
Curry Hanover moved right to the lead from post one and then would not relinquish it for the duration. With Cartier Zette (Joe Chindano Jr.) trying to keep up in second, Curry Hanover trotted moderate quarters of :29.2, :59.1 and 1:28.2 before coming off the turn last and bolting for home by 5-½ lengths in a season’s best, 1:58.
It was the sixth win of the year for Curry Hanover ($3.60) who is owned by Franklin Meier and trained by Angelo Nappo.
Jim McNeight Jr. put on quite a show in the bike on Friday by winning four races on the card, including a natural hat trick in races two, three and four. McNeight won with Smart N Sassy (1:56.3, $10.60), Batting Stats (1:58.3, $11.40), Catch The Wave (1:58.3, $3.80) and Makes Me Charlie (1:57.3, $3.70).
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (September 28) 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.
The Batavia Boys Varsity Soccer team beat Greece Odyssey 6-1 on Friday evening at Van Detta Stadium. The decisive victory was highlighted with two goals by Troy Hawley (#5), both assisted by Devin Hughes (#20), one goal by Jaziah Ayala (#20), assisted by Hezekiah Doane (#22), one goal by Rylan Bohn (#24), assisted by Trevor Tryon (#8), one goal by Hezekiah Doane (#22), assisted by Aiden Reimer (#14), and finally, one goal by Trevor Tryon (#8), assisted by his brother, Trey Tryon (#16). Odyssey were limited to one goal thanks to the outstanding effort of Batavia's defensive line of Brandon Currier (#10), Will Fulton (#6), Jeremiah Childs (#15), Teddy Cswaykus (#18), and Brody Ditzel (#9), as well as goalkeepers Harry Mellander and Ben Morton.
"After last Friday's game, the message to our team this week has been about getting back to basics and re-setting our program standard," Coach Tyler Winters said. "We felt the boys had a phenomenal week of practice answering that challenge, so it was nice to see them come out tonight and finish a week of execution like we know they are capable of. We will enjoy the win and look to grow from it as we prepare for the next challenge that our Class D schedule presents us with."
Also on Friday:
Batavia beat Arcadia 34-0. Bronx Bucholz was 11-14 passing for 159 yards and one TD. He rushed for 119 yards on 14 attempts and scored twice on the ground. Zailen Griffen gained 88 yards rushing on 10 carries. He scored two TDs. Nolan Ball scored at TD, gaining 20 yards on three attempts. Lakoda Mruczek had five tackles and two interceptions. Brock Bigsby had 7.5 tackles.
Letchworth/Warsaw/Perry beat Le Roy/Cal-Mum 25-21. Jack Egeling gained 65 yards on 14 carries and had a kickoff return of 80 yards for a TD. Brady McClurg was 5-11 passing for 56 yards. Xavier Bown had seven tackles and an interception.
The Alexander Trojans faced a team that has proven a juggernaut so far in 2024 and Friday night's game at GCC proved to be another large-margin win for the Avon Braves.
The Braves beat the Trojans 41-14.
Alexander scored in the second quarter when Brody Hackman carried the ball in from one yard out. The PAT kick was blocked.
In the fourth quarter, Kingston Woods scored on a 14-yard run. The Trojans converted on a two-point run.
Ryder Reichert carried the ball 10 times for 82 yards. Woods finished with 54 yards rushing.
On defense, Dylan Pohl led the Trojans with 2.5 QB sacks, two tackles for loss and three tackles overall. ree Safety Duke Snyder had eight tackles for the Trojans.
The Trojans fall to 3-1, and Avon moves to 4-0 on the season
Pembroke beat Elba in volleyball in three sets on Thursday.
Socres:
25-21,
25-22,
25-24
Setter Juliana Cleveland had 20 assists and 12 digs. Outside hitter Reagan Schneider had 9 kills, 5 digs and a block. Right side Brianna Reynalds had 12 digs, 4 aces, 3 kills and a block. Middle hitter Onolee Easterbrook added 5 kills, 4 solo blocks and 3 blocking assists.
For Elba, Alexa Ocampo had 6 kills, 10 digs and 4 aces. Sydney Reilly had 9 digs and Jada Fite added 13 assists and 1 ace.
Batavia girls tennis lost to Hilton by a score of 4-3. Notable wins for Batavia include Kelsey Kirkwood who had a long three set match coming back to win the third set 6-2 decidedly. Rahmeto Reinhardt and Drew Stevens also represented well, winning at first doubles against a talented Hilton team. This was a very competitive match vs. Hilton all around, and I'm proud of the girls for battling.
Singles
1-Kelsey Kirkwood defeated Sarah Lissow 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Photo of Center Attraction courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
Center Attraction was in perfect position to run down her competition in a thrilling stretch drive in the featured $13,500 Distaff Open at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (September 25) night.
Center Attraction (Jim McNeight Jr.) got away second from post one behind Won Surreal Deal (Kyle Cummings) who set the pace in :28, :57.1 and 1:25.2. It was at that last station where Marathon Mary (Drew Monti) pulled from third and advanced towards the leader. The top three mares broke away from the field and when they entered the stretch, Center Attraction slipped into the passing lane while Marathon Mary continued to pressure Won Surreal Deal on the outside. The three sidewheelers paced three abreast all the way to the line where Center Attraction edged ahead by a half length and won in 1:54.3.
It was the fourth win of the year for Center Attraction ($7.50) who is owned by her trainer Robert Anderson, in partnership with Pamela Schieber.
Dave McNeight III and Drew Monti both had driving hat tricks while Chris Petrelli was the top trainer with two wins on the card.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (September 27) 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.
Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Photo provided by David Reilly
Take Me Out To The Ball Game In several of my previous stories, I have indicated that I was an enthusiastic sports fan (especially of Notre Dame University football), even as a little kid. I'm not sure why that was because it didn't really come from my parents, and I was the oldest of three brothers.
My dad was a Notre Dame fan, but other than that, for some odd reason, he chose teams more to dislike than to root for. Also, strangely, he saved his ire for the teams closest to Batavia. He detested the New York Yankees and despised the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. When games would come on ( in black and white, of course), he would quickly identify the underdog, and if they were losing, he'd claim they were being cheated, or the contest was “fixed.” It was almost impossible to watch a game with him.
Apparently, my mom was a big baseball fan of the Batavia Clippers when she was young and single in the 1930s and 40s. My Uncle Bob, now 94, remembers her going to the games even out of town in Wellsville and Olean when they were in the “PONY” ( Pennsylvania, Ontario, New York) League. Back then, the team was community-owned, and I still have a stock certificate that my mother purchased for the team. But after she married and when I was a kid, I don't remember her caring much about sports. Maybe my dad's attitude had something to do with that.
Besides Notre Dame in college football, my favorite team was the Cleveland Browns in pro football first. In baseball, it was the Brooklyn Dodgers, but when the team moved to Los Angeles after the 1956 season, I switched to the Milwaukee Braves until they moved to Atlanta. I haven't had a favorite baseball team since then.
I have also previously mentioned that I have an extensive collection of Milwaukee Braves memorabilia from 1957, when they beat my friend Charlie's favorite team, the Yankees, for The World Series.
Pro Football In The 1950s and '60s In the 1950s, there were no Buffalo Bills nearby to root for. They didn't become a team until 1960 and didn't join the NFL until 1970, the same year the Buffalo Sabres joined the National Hockey League. There were only eight teams in the NFL in the 50s (now there are 32), and most Batavians are rooted for the Browns or the New York Giants. Those teams were most likely to be televised locally, too, on Sunday, which is the day all games were played. Friday was for high schools, and Saturday was for college.
My team was the Browns with quarterback Otto Graham, speedy pass catcher Dante “Sticky Fingers“ Lavelli and combination offensive lineman and kicker Lou “The Toe” Groza. (they seemed to have cooler nicknames then, too – there was a defensive back on the Detroit Lions named Dick “Night Train” Lane). Then, into the 60s, while the Bills were still in the old American Football League, the Browns had Hall of Fame running backs Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly. The Browns won NFL championships in 1950, 1954, 1955 and 1964. I had all the football cards of the Browns back then, but like my baseball cards, they are long gone, unfortunately.
I never got to go to any Browns games. People didn't travel to games as much back then, and as I said, my dad disliked them. But in the 1950s, I got to a Notre Dame game and went to Cleveland's Municipal Stadium, where the Browns played, but to see baseball games.
Cheer, Cheer For Old Notre Dame In November 1957, my parents drove to a Notre Dame University football game with my younger brother Dan and me (my mom was pregnant with brother Jim Jr.) in South Bend, Indiana. This probably didn't mean much to Dan, who was 7, but it meant the world to me. I had been a devoted Notre Dame football fan since I was 7 or 8 years old. I kept a scrapbook of stories about their games and followed some of their stars like Johnny Lujack, Ralph Guglielmi, and Paul Hornung. The very Saturday before, Notre Dame had pulled off a huge upset, ending the Oklahoma Sooners' 47-game winning streak, which still is the record today, by beating them 7-0. I was ten and watched every second of that game on our black-and-white TV.
My first memory from the trip was getting caught in a whiteout blizzard, probably somewhere near Dunkirk, as that is the time of year when lake-effect snow comes in off Lake Erie. We made it through okay, but it must have been a “white knuckler” for my dad at the wheel.
On the Friday night before the game we went to the pre-game pep rally which I recall was in a big field house. The place was packed with students and fans and the band, coaches, and players whipped everyone into a frenzy with the memories of the previous week's gigantic win over Oklahoma. It was deafeningly loud to say the least. My years were ringing the rest of the night.
The game was against Iowa, and I don't remember much about it except that Notre Dame lost, so I was pretty down afterward. My biggest recollection from the game was when a Notre Dame running back was hit so hard by an Iowa defensive player that you could hear the “crack” of helmets and pads up in the stands. I think the ND player had to be helped off the field.
An unused ticket from 1957 game
I do remember that Notre Dame had a beautiful campus and that we saw the famous “Golden Dome.” However, the iconic mural on the Hesburgh Library with Christ's arms raised, commonly known as “Touchdown Jesus,” was not completed until 1964. Oddly, I have continued to be a Notre Dame football fan all these years, but I have never been back to another game.
At the Old Ball Game The next summer, in 1958, my dad and his friend and customer Leo Reinhart, who owned a grocery in Pavilion, took Dan, me, and Leo's son to Cleveland to see a couple of major league baseball games. This time, mom had to stay home with a newborn, as brother Jim had been born that April.
I have good memories of the games, a bad one of the hotel, and a funny one of an event on the trip home.
My first recollection of going to the game is the same one I have seen other people comment on. It was in the now-demolished Municipal Stadium, but when we walked through the portal to where our seats were, I was stopped in my tracks by the vista of the big, beautifully manicured green field in front of me. My mouth probably literally dropped open. I had never seen anything like it. Also, as I previously mentioned, it was the home field of the football Browns in the fall.
The games were between the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) and the Chicago White Sox. I was not a fan of either team ( again, my team was the Milwaukee Braves, who had won the World Series the previous year, but that was too far to drive), but there were some great players on the field. The White Sox had the Hall of Fame double-play combination of Nellie Fox at second base and Luis Aparicio at shortstop. Cleveland had slugger Rocky Colavito in the outfield, a young Roger Maris before he got traded to the New York Yankees and broke Babe Ruth's home run record in 1961, and another Hall of Famer from Cuba, Minnie Minoso, who had played for the White Sox the year before. I don't remember who won the games, but I do recollect that Minnie hit a home run and I was very excited by my first big league baseball experience.
Hall of Famers Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio
I suppose the hotel we stayed at in downtown Cleveland was okay, but we had no prior warning that crews were going to be working all night sand-blasting the edifice of a building across the street. Needless to say, sleeping (when you added in my dad's snoring) was hard to come by.
On our way home at night, we stopped at a gas station to refuel and use the restroom. As we got back in the car to leave, we noticed Dan (about age 8 ) was missing. My dad went looking and found Dan, a notorious sleepwalker, urinating on the rear wall of the station. In his sleep, he thought he was in the restroom. Everyone had a good laugh about that, except Dan, when he woke up and we told him.
Since I became an adult, I have been to many Bills games (especially in the 1990s and early 2000s) and a number of Sabres contests. I have also attended baseball games in major league stadiums in Chicago (both Cubs and White Sox), Baltimore, Montreal, and New York (Yankees). I also became a fan of the Syracuse Orange college basketball team and have attended some of their games in their Dome.
But my childhood memories of going to my first “big time” games in South Bend and Cleveland will always stay with me.
Photo of Lip Reader A courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
Saturday (September 21) night at Batavia Downs featured $13,500 Open Handicaps for both the pace and trot and this week, upset winners prevailed in each contest.
The pacers went first and Lip Reader A (Drew Monti) got his third win at Batavia this meet.
Lip Reader A got away sixth while Admiral Hanover (Kyle Swift) led to the quarter in :27.4, where Villiam (Joe Chindano Jr.) then blasted by him to take control. As Villiam crossed-over at the top of the turn, Monti was pulling Lip Reader A off the pegs and pushing him through the breeze as the long march to the front began. When Villiam reached the half in :57, Lip Reader A drew alongside his flank and before reaching three-quarters, the pair was locked in a duel. Villiam and Lip Reader A pulled away from the field by three lengths in the final bend and both drivers were highly animated in the urging of their mounts. Villiam and Lip Reader A paced stride for stride all the way down the lane until Lip Reader A got the advantage by a quarter length and won in 1:53.4.
It was the ninth win of the year for Lip Reader A ($11.60) who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing Maria Rice trains the winner.
Lip Reader A was one of four winners for Monti on Saturday. He also won with P L Quarantine (1:54.1, $12.40), Heir Of Southwest (1:57.2, $8.10) and Leave And Roll (1:56.1, $19.60).
The trot was the very next race and Biscoe (Jim McNieght Jr.) got his second win in a row while being overlooked by the betting public, despite winning the Open last week.
Biscoe got off to a slow start and was 10 lengths behind the frontrunning Treasured Tee (Joe Chindano Jr.) at the :27.4 quarter. Then as the leader passed the half, Biscoe started moving up on the outside. Treasure Tee looked strong on the point rolling through the backstretch and Biscoe appeared to stall at that same time. But as the race neared three-quarters, Biscoe got it in gear and was trotting up a storm as they headed into the last turn. Treasure Tee was able to hold Biscoe at bay until they reached the top of the stretch, where Biscoe simply trotted away from the field by 3-½ lengths and won in 1:57.
Biscoe ($28.20) got his seventh win of the year for his driver McNeight, who also owns the horse. Jim McNeight does the training.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (September 25) with post time at 6 p.m. and there will be a $1,290 carryover and the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 14th 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.
Front Row: Mikayla Yohon, Lei St.Clair, Kendall Chase, Roan Finn; Middle Row: Edison Betances, Ava Pellegrino, Taryn Wright, Sophia Matthews Back Row: Carsyn Good, Chloe Garner, Nee'Kay Smith, Coach Hamilton (Emma Cooper not in picture). Submitted Photo
Uneven Bars: 1. Evelyn Buttaccio (Rush-Henrietta): 8.7, 9. Roan Finn (Genesee): 7.25, 15. Carsyn Good (Genesee): 6.0, 16. Kendall Chase & Emma Cooper (Genesee): 5.95, 18. Edison Betances (Genesee): 5.6, 24. Ava Pellegrino (Genesee): 5.15
Balance Beam: 1. Sara Lago (Fairport): 9.05, 16. Nee'Kay Smith (Genesee): 7.225, 19. Roan Finn (Genesee): 6.8, 20. Emma Cooper (Genesee): 6.75, 21. Mikayla Yohon (Genesee): 6.6, 24. Ava Pellegrino (Genesee): 6.05, 26. Kendall Chase (Genesee): 5.95
Floor Exercise: 1. Sara Lago (Fairport): 9.35, 9. Roan Finn (Genesee): 8.45, 18. Emma Cooper (Genesee): 7.25, 20. Lei St. Clair & Carsyn Good (Genesee): 6.75, 22. Edison Betances (Genesee): 6.65, 27. Chloe Garner (Genesee): 5.6
The next meeting is Saturday, September 28, at the Elmira Gymnastics Club at 4:30pm.
The Batavia boys varsity soccer team beat Pal-Mac 6-2 on Saturday afternoon in a dominant showing, highlighted by two goals by Gavynn Trippany (#3), both assisted by Trevor Tryon (#8), two goals by Jaziah Ayala (#1), one assisted by Aiden Reimer (#14) and the other unassisted, one goal by Rylan Bohn (#24), assisted by Gavynn Trippany (#3), and one goal by Troy Hawley (#5), also assisted by Gavynn Trippany (#3).
