In one of the most exciting races seen at Batavia Downs in some time, Surfer Beach put away all challengers in a gate to wire win in the $11,200 Open I Handicap Pace on Saturday night (Aug. 21).

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. took no prisoners off the gate as he took the lead and seated the field — with the exception of Lord Willoughby A, who found himself in a real fight in the breeze. Surfer Beach kept Lord Willoughby A chasing to the quarter in :26.4 and the half in :54.4. The game effort by Lord Willoughby A continued to three-quarters before the trip and tempo finally wore him down.

As they headed into the last turn, Black Is Back went three-deep around the fading Lord Willoughby A, and Stratosphere followed as the pair tried to reel in the pacesetter. But Surfer Beach was racing on another level and he opened two lengths heading into the stretch. From there, Morrill sat chilly as Surfer Beach was on his own, pacing away to the line in 1:51.3.

The time was a seasonal and lifetime mark for Surfer Beach and tied Racine Bell’s 1:51.3 effort set on Wednesday (Aug. 4) for the fastest mile of the meet. The time is also only two-fifths of a second off the all-time track record of 1:51.1 set by Aracache Hanover in 2011.

Surfer Beach scored his seventh win of the year and pushed his 2021 bank to $58,590. The four-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere-Southwind Tempo is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Team Rice Racing and Adelphi Bloodstock and is trained by Maria Rice. He paid $3.70 to win.

In the $10,000 Open II undercard, Mcspidey registered his first win of the year in a lifetime best effort.

Beaten-favourite American Zest was the public’s choice again, and he took the lead and dictated fractions while YS Sunshine and Mcspidey followed behind in line to the three-quarters. When they reached that station in 1:25.1, YS Sunshine pulled the pocket and went immediately backwards, forcing a charging Daylight Rush to go three-wide. That allowed American Zest to take off by two lengths, and he looked like a lock at that point. That was until Mcspidey shook loose on the pegs and paced home in lightning :27.3 to out-foot American Zest to the beam and win by a quarter length in a lifetime mark of 1:53.

Mcspidey is owned by William Emmons and is trained by Jim Clouser Jr. Kyle Cummings drove the $6.60 winner.

Jim Morrill Jr. and Kyle Cummings led all drivers with two wins each on Saturday.

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Sunday (Aug. 22), there will be a carryover of $2,471 in the fourth race Jackpot Pick-6 wager. Post time for the first race at 1:15 p.m. (EDT).

(Batavia Downs)