Batavia Hosts Claiming Championships
The $125,000 finals of the Claiming Championship Series (CCS) highlighted the program at Batavia Downs on Saturday, November 11.
Quicksilvercandy A leads all North American standardbreds in wins this season after winning the $20,000 final for $5,000-$7,500 claiming fillies and mares by a nose over her stable-mate Kaitlyn Rae.
Quicksilvercandy A took a two-hole trip behind Kaitlyn Rae to the top of the stretch when she dropped into the passing lane and out-paced the leader to the wire, winning by a mere nose in 1:57.
It was the 20th win of the year for Quicksilvercandy A, paying $2.10 to win, and 61st of her career. She has earned $106,694 for owner Larry Stalbaum. Kim Asher trains Quicksilvercandy A and she was driven by Drew Monti.
Monti had a total of five winners on the program, including two more legs of the CCS.
In the $20,000 CCS final for $7,500-$10,000 claiming trotters, Chelseas Chance went wire to wire to win in 1:59. It was the sixth win of the year for the six-year-old Kadabra mare that is owned by James Caradori and trained by Carl Monti.
Monti also won the $15,000 CCS final for $4,000 claiming horses and geldings with Donegal Jim, who sat third the whole mile before tipping wide off the last turn and pacing by the pacesetter One Chaser to win by a length in 1:56.4 for owner-trainer Tessa Roland.
Lucky McTrucky (1:54, $20.40) and I’m So Handsome (1:54.1, $11.00) rounded out Monti's five winners on the night.
In the $20,000 CCS final for $5,000-$6,000 pacing horses and geldings, Kings Treasure pulled at the three-quarters and powered home to a one-length victory in 1:56.1. Kings Treasure, returning $4.30 to win, is owned by the Resilient Racing Stable, trained by Rose Russo, and was driven by Billy Davis Jr.
The $15,000 CCS final for $4,000-$5,000 claiming trotters went to Ellen’s Streak as she went coast to coast from post one in 2:01.1. Ellen’s Streak, paying $3.70, is owned by driver Larry Stalbaum and trained by Kim Asher.
The $20,000 CCS final for $8,000-$10,000 claiming pacers was won by Rock The Dream in wire-to-wire fashion in 1:55.1. Rock The Dream, paying $2.40, is owned by Benjamin Ortiz, trained by Frank Mastrodonato, and was driven by Ray Fisher Jr.
The last $15,000 CCS final was for $4,000 claiming fillies and mares and it went to Fox Valley Lena, who led at every station before stopping the clock at 1:58.1. It was the 13th win of the year for Fox Valley Lena who is owned by David Bratt, trained by Russell Bratt, and was driven by Ray Fisher Jr.
In the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace, Fireyourguns lead at every station before holding off strong late charges by Focus Power and Itsonlyrocknroll A to hang on with a head advantage in 1:54.
It was the seventh win of the year and 55th lifetime victory for Fireyourguns. Owned by Jennifer and Robert Lowe and Terrence Mc Clory, who also trains the winner, and driven by Mike Caprio, he paid $4.60 to win.
Larry Stalbaum leads for the dash title with 103 wins, but Drew Monti is now only one win behind with 102. Ray Fisher Jr., who won three races on the program, sits in third with 98 wins.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, November 15 with post time for the first race set at 5 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs)