It was no vacation for Scenic Adventure after high winds and heavy rain blew into Genesee County prior to her race. But the mare treated it like a day at the beach after handling her peers in the featured $15,493 conditioned pace for female side-wheelers at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night, Nov. 20.   

Scenic Adventure and Drew Monti took a quick, easy lead and marched to the half in :58.3 while Truly (Jim McNeight Jr.) tracked from second. With no one applying any pressure from the rear, Scenic Adventure continued to pace smartly and broke away from the field as she passed three-quarters in 1:27.4. Scenic Adventure continued to extend her lead around the last turn and was clear by 3-1/2 lengths as she turned for home. Scenic Adventure then paced to the line unfettered to win by two lengths in 1:57.1. Oaxacan Dream N (Brett MacDonald) and Shooting Brooke (Joseph Chindano Jr.) finished second and third, respectively.

The victory was the seventh of the year from 36 starts for Scenic Adventure, a four-year-old daughter of Racing Hill who is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith. She paid $23 for the upset win.

Smith was the leading trainer on Wednesday after sending three of his students to the winner’s enclosure. 

The feature win was one of four for driver Monti, who also won with Bee Still My Hardt (1:55.1, $5.60), Vondell Kemp (2:00.2, $3.30) and Big Bad Mosa (1:57, $14.80) -- the latter paced away to a 16-3/4-length victory.

Matching Monti for driving wins on Wednesday was Shawn McDonough, who also had a four-bagger in the bike, including a natural hat trick in races seven, eight and nine. McDonough scored with Always B Mimi (1:55.3, $35), Keystone Phoenix (1:58, $3.80), R U Talkin (1:58.2, $48.40) and Hurrikane Msrodine (1:58, $8.70). 

Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday, Nov. 22 with post time at 6 p.m. There will be a carryover of $1,481 in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 13th race.

(With files from Batavia Downs)