Three divisions of the New York Bred Late Closers for two-year-old pacing fillies highlighted the Friday night (Sept. 30) program at Batavia Downs Casino

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The first race $12,200 late-closer event saw Blows Me Away score her fifth consecutive victory in convincing style.

The fillies lined up at the gate ready to pace. Cheer My Dear (Ray Fisher Jr.) left on the outside, but shortly lost her step and broke stride while banking the first turn. Blows Me Away (Jim Marohn Jr.) replaced her in first while the rest of the field sat in a line behind Marohn to reach the quarter in :30 seconds.

As they continued to the half, L Diz (John Stark Jr.) pulled out and turned on the heat. By the half, Stark Jr. steered her to second in 1:01.2, but it wasn’t enough to breeze by the determined leader. With a steady three-quarter mark of 1:30.1, Blows Me Away truly impressed with a final quarter of :28.2 to win by two and a quarter lengths in 1:58.3. L Diz caught second and Leeann Majors (Gareth Dowse) reached for third.

Blows Me Away, a daughter of American Ideal-Arts Reality, paid $2.80 to win and the purse brought her lifetime earnings up to $30,335. She is owned by William and Jack Heinz and trained by Jim Perry.

The seventh race $12,200 late closer was full of thrills and an abundance of movement on the field. But the heavy favourite Canamerica would not disappoint, making a worst to first move and taking the event.

Lislea Bonita (Jim McNeight) and Izzy (Shawn Mcdonough) both led the field off the gate, but Mcdonough powered by McNeight without delay by the back stretch to make the quarter in :29.1. Southwind Missouri (Phil Fluet) pulled out to take the turn, but wasn’t gaining ground so she tucked back in. Approaching the stretch, Fluet pulled her out a second time then leading the outside flow.

Suddenly out of nowhere, Canamerica (John Stark Jr.) came blazing from last place three wide with a need for speed past the entire field. She took the lead in a matter of seconds but that wasn’t the end; it was a nose-to-nose fight until the finish. Canamerica pulled out the win by only a head in 1:58.4. The 23-1 Izzy hung on gamely for a hard fought second and Southwind Missouri held on tight for third.

Canamerica paid $3.40 to win. This was the fourth win in six lifetime starts for Canamerica (American Ideal-Canadian Culture), who raised her lifetime earnings to $24,025 for owners Edmund Smith, Eloise Luchsinger, David Smith, and Stark Jr., who also trains the winner. This was also a driving double for Stark.

In the $12,100 non-betting late-closer event held before the first race, Major Issue went coast to coast for Stark Jr. setting a lifetime mark of 1:59.1 in only the fourth start of her career. Major Issue (Art Major-Carolache) is owned by Thomas McTygue and Masie Stable LLC and is trained by Sam Schillaci.

(With files from Batavia Downs)