After scoring an eye-opening eight-length win last week, Stratosphere bounced right back and won again in the $13,500 Open I Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 16).
Drew Monti sent Stratosphere off the car and got parked to the quarter in :26.4 before clearing the front. But after taking the lead, they backed the half to :56.3 and from there had the upper hand. With McSpidey breathing down his back and Silver Beast chasing on the rim, Stratosphere was unfazed while he stuck to his task, rounded the last turn and cruised home to an easy 1-1/4 length win in 1:54.1.
It was the second-straight Open I win and fourth win in the last five starts for Stratosphere who now has seven wins and $50,978 in earnings for the year for his driver-owner Drew Monti. Darrin Monti trains the $3.40 winner.
Drew Monti also won with Apple Valley Art (1:56.3, $4.20) and Charmbo Orbit (1:55.1, $3.00) to end the night the leading driver with three wins.
In the $12,100 Open II Handicap, Stranger Things sat second behind Mississippi Rabbit until the head of the lane, where he dipped down, snuck up the passing lane and brushed late to a quarter-length win in 1:54.3.
Stranger Things is owned by Virgina Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel and James Reuther and is trained by Angelo Nappo. Shawn McDonough drove the $6.70 winner.
McDonough ended the night with two driving wins as well as one training win.
Other horsemen having two wins were driver Kevin Cummings and trainer Jim Clouser Jr.
With no unique-winning ticket purchased in the Jackpot Pick 5 on Saturday night, there will be a carryover of $9,927 for that bet in Race 9 when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 20).
Free full past performance programs for the entire card — that includes these races — can be downloaded at bataviadownsgaming.com under the live racing tab, where they can be found for every live night of racing at Batavia Downs.
Post time for the first race is 5 p.m. (EDT).
(Batavia Downs)