Despite winning the distaff feature at Batavia Downs last week, Kruella was overlooked this week in lieu of two ship-in entries from Vernon Downs. But after a furious stretch drive late, Kruella sent the interlopers packing as she won the $9,500 fillies and mares Open Pace at Batavia on Wednesday night (August 2).
The heavily favoured Vernon invader Little Santamonica (Shawn McDonough) out-left Vernon cohort All Charged Up (Larry Stalbaum) off the gate and went right for the lead, rushing the girls to a :27.3 quarter. With the field standing pat behind her, McDonough backed the half off to :57.1 and it looked like everything was going their way.
As the race went up the backstretch, All Charged Up pulled from second and was followed by Susies Delight (Ray Fisher Jr.) and Kruella (Kevin Cummings). The outer flow continued to advance around the turn and drew even with the front-runner at the top of the stretch. At that point, Cummings tipped Kruella three-deep, but was still three-lengths off the leader. With five horses spread across the track and all the drivers applying heavy urging, Kruella closed like a jet on the grandstand side and proved to be the best, winning by a length in 1:54.2.
It was the third win in a row and of the year for Kruella ($14.60) who registered a new lifetime mark with the 1:54.2 clocking. The five-year-old daughter of American Ideal and Villa Hanover is owned by Two Gals Stable LLC and is trained by Jineen Simone.
In the $8,500 fillies and mares Open II, Jolt Of Jo (Dave McNeight III) got a perfect two-hole trip behind Voltina (John Cummings Jr.) before popping the pocket at the top of the lane and pacing away to a length victory in 1:54.4, which was a new lifetime mark for the winner.
Jolt Of Jo ($26.60) if owned by R. Lewis Hauber and is trained by Jim Graham.
Larry Stalbaum had a driving triple, and Shawn McDonough won the last two races on the card. Trainer Kimberly Asher also had three wins on the night.
With a silent auction, patron contributions and horsemen donating their win percentages from the night, the fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester was able to raise in excess of $9,500.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (August 4) with post time set at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.
(Batavia Downs)