When the going got tough, Machin Marley got going and won the $9,000 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening (Sept. 26).

Machin Marley (Drew Monti) hit the pylons last while Little Joke (Billy Davis Jr.) fired off the wings to take the early lead. But Little Joke would soon submit to a takeover coup by Sportsmuffler (John Cummings Jr.), who came hard midway up the backstretch. The field stayed single file past the half in a tepid :30 second quarter before Kaitlyn Rae (Ray Fisher Jr.) pulled first-over at the five-eighths.

The top two tangled to the three-quarters in 1:26.1, with neither getting an advantage. Then in the turn, Badlands Delight (Kevin Cummings) tipped three-deep and Machin Marley went four-wide from last with almost five lengths to make up. With the whole field racing literally side-by-side in the lane, Machin Marley flew down the centre of the track and collared them all at the wire to win in 1:55.2.

It was the sixth win in 30 starts this year for Machin Marley ($15.20), who now has earned $39,381 for owners Thatsideofthefence and John Mungillo, who also does the training.

In the $8,000 Open II Pace for fillies and mares, Aritzia Hanover (Billy Davis Jr.) got away mid-pack before pulling first-over to out-muscle Rockin Kasbah (Kevin Cummings) through the second lap and win by a length in 1:57.1. Aritzia Hanover ($4.40) is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags Stable and Pine Hill Racing. Maria Rice trains the winner.

Drew Monti and Billy Davis Jr. both had driving triples on Wednesday. Monti is the current dash driving leader for the meet with 64 wins. Davis is third with 48 wins behind Kevin Cummings who sits in second with 60.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 28), with post time set for 6 p.m.

(Batavia Downs)