After making his last three starts without a win at Saratoga Raceway, Makadushin N Cheez found his way back to western New York and picked up where he left off, winning the $15,000 Open I Handicap Trot at Batavia Downs on Friday, Oct. 27. 

Right after the front-running Mugshots Bro (Jim McNeight Jr.) torched a :27.4 quarter, Makadushin N Cheez (Kevin Cummings) pulled from fifth and flushed I Got The Looks (Dan Yetman) and then followed his cover all the way to three-quarters. As they trotted into turn four, Cummings tipped Makadushin N Cheez three-wide and cleared the front by the top of the stretch. As he motored down the lane, Makadushin N Cheez was all wrapped up on his way to a 2-1/4-length win in 1:57.1.

The seventh win of 2023 in 31 starts for Makadushin N Cheez ($3.40) pushed his earnings for the year over the $100,000 mark for owners Joe D'Agostino, Molly D'Agostino, Phil Kadushin and Dave Dewhurst, who also trains the winner. 

In the secondary featured $13,000 Open II Handicap Trot, E Street (Jim Morrill Jr.) sat second behind Showme Some Muscle (Justin Huckabone) through very even quarters of :29, :59.1 and 1:29 -- that last station where Golden Kronos (Drew Monti) got into the mix. After circling the final turn, Morrill shook loose with E Street and trotted by Showme Some Muscle while fending off Golden Kronos to win by two lengths in 1:58.

It was the second straight win for E Street ($3.80), who is owned and trained by Rachelle Mungillo. 

Although both features were won by prohibitive favourites, bettors were treated to a magnificent payoff in the fifth race on Friday. Cash N Chrome (Ray Fisher Jr.) was overlooked from post eight but he overcame the wide start to win in 1:59.1 and return $173 for a $2 win wager.

Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. and there will be a $1,011 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race 13.

(With files from Batavia Downs)