The fastest field of pacers ever assembled at Batavia Downs Casino will go behind the starting gate in the ninth edition of the $40,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial

on Saturday evening.

The Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace, the track’s richest overnight event of the season, is named for the former chairman of the board of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation, the owner of Batavia Downs Casino.

Kenneth J’s 1:52 track record, set when he won the 2008 Kane Memorial, could be in serious jeopardy. The weather forecast calls for unseasonably warm weather for the second week in October in Western New York.

Headlining the field will be Aracache Hanover. The four-year-old son of Dragon Again-Armbro Cachet has earned $247,032 this season and $1,015,803, lifetime. Trevor Henry, nearing 4,000 lifetime wins, will drive for trainer Gregg McNair.

Aracache Hanover was a winner two starts back on the Little Brown Jug undercard, in 1:50.2, but did seem to be at the top of his game last time out at The Red Mile, when he retreated to ninth.

“He just wasn’t himself,” trainer Gregg McNair said. “We scoped him after the race and he was a touch sick but we’ve treated him and he seems to be fine. He’s got gate speed and he’s good on a half (-mile track). I expect a good effort from him on Saturday.”

For owners William Switala and Jim Martin, racing in the Kane will be very special.

“We’ve always wanted to race in the Kane,” co-owner Bill Switala commented. “Batavia Downs is a beautiful track and Jim and myself have been friends with the general manager (Todd Haight) for many years. That’s basically why we’re here.”

Aracache Hanover drew post two and has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favourite.

Trainer Ron Burke, currently leading all of North America in wins and purse earnings, will send out Lucky Bettor. The Bettors Delight seven-year-old has started 143 times and has been victorious in 36 of them. He’s earned $132,780 this year and sports lifetime earnings of $765,444. Kevin Cummings will drive from post three.

Trainer Mark Ford will ship-in the classy nine-year-old Silent Swing. The gelded son of Northern Luck has earned $1,573,857 in 179 starts. His 1:48.4 lifetime mark set at the Meadowlands earlier this year is the fastest in the field. He’ll start from post five.

Here’s the complete field:

$40,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial
1. Pacinello
2. Aracache Hanover
3. Lucky Bettor
4. Windfall Blue Chip
5. Silent Swing
6. Power Of A Moment
7. Arterosa

The 13-race program will also include the fifth edition of the Brian Schroeder Memorial trot, named after the longtime Western New York horseman. Schroeder’s career highlight came when he finished second, at odds of 68-to-1 with Financial Paige, in the $446,900 Breeders Crown three-year-old filly trot at Woodbine, in 1995.

Other top trotters Brian Schroeder raced throughout his career include Collier St Joey, a starter in the 1993 Hambletonian; Collier St. Kathy; Top Trotter; Remind Me; Mykonos; Texas Cafe; Matched Pearls and Taylor T Collins.

(Batavia Downs)