Despite a jump in class, a return to an inside post proved to be the ticket as Stratosphere went the route in the $8,500 Open I Handicap on Saturday night (Sept. 19) at Batavia Downs.

Percys Z Tam took a quick early lead but as soon as he crossed over, Stratosphere left the pocket, took the lead and called all the shots from there. After hitting the half in a rated :57.3, Stratosphere saw Under Paid at his flank as that one tried to apply pressure to three-quarters in 1:25.2.

Moving for the final turn, Under Paid started to fade, allowing Percys Z Tam a clear path to pull. Morrill pulled the trigger and Percys Z Tam took his best shot. But his best wasn’t good enough as Stratosphere kicked away and kicked away hard, opening a two-length advantage at the top of the stretch and pacing home in hand to win by two-and-a-half lengths in 1:53.4.

It was the third win in the last five starts and the fifth win of the year for Stratosphere who is owned by driver Drew Monti and trained by Darrin Monti. He paid $5.80 to win.

In the undercard $7,000 Open III Pace, McSpidey was never headed after taking command off the gate and cruised home to a two-and-three-quarter length, 1:53.3 win, a seasonal mark. William Emmons owns the Jim Clouser Jr.-trained McSpidey who scored his third win of the year, all of which were at Batavia Downs. Denny Bucceri drove the $3.20 winner.

Drivers Drew Monti and Billy Davis Jr. each had three winners on the card while Jim Morrill Jr., Denny Bucceri and Ray Fisher Jr. had two wins apiece. Trainers Don Rothfuss and Don Niles both had two winners as well.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Sept. 23) with post time at 5 p.m. (EDT). There will be a $3,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick-5 wager on Wednesday that is part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering program. The Pick-5 starts in Race 1 and runs through Race 5 and free program pages for those races will be available on both the USTA and Batavia Downs websites early next week.

(Batavia Downs)