Brett Beckwith took care of business Thursday (Jan. 30) afternoon at Batavia Downs when he won five races on the card and vaulted himself into first place for driving wins this meet. Beckwith’s run included a natural hat trick in races nine, 10 and 11 and a victory in one of the co-features on the program. 

In the $18,571 Open Handicap pace, Beckwith sat behind Itsallaboutfaith N (pictured above), who then sat behind Primo Uomo (Joe Chindano Jr.) as he marched off quarters of :27.3 and :57.1 while being pushed by the parked-out Belmont Major N (Keith Kash). Belmont Major N’s bid then fell apart approaching three-quarters as the top two horses pulled away from the field around the last turn. When the race entered the stretch, Beckwith tipped Itsallaboutfaith N off the pegs and simply cruised by Primo Uomo in deep stretch to win by a length in 1:54.   

Itsallaboutfaith N ($8.40) is owned by PT Stable and trained by Gareth Dowse. 

Beckwith’s other four winners were Century Grizzly (1:57.3, $23.40), Angelo J Fra (1:58.3, $4.80) who chalked up her 64th lifetime win, Venier Hanover (1:56.2, $3.60) and Maczaffair N (1:9.2, $6.00). 

Beckwith now sits in first place with 24 driving wins, two ahead of Joe Chindano Jr. who was relegated to second with his now 22 wins after Thursday's action. 

The other co-feature at The Downs was the $18,571 Open Handicap trot that was won by El Toro Loco with an impressive gate to wire performance in his first start at Batavia this year after a five-week stint in Ohio. 

Kevin Cummings sent El Toro Loco off the gate to the front and stepped lively quarters of :29, :59.2 and 1:28.1 while Missile (Brett Beckwith) and My One Percent (Kyle Cummings) gave chase. After rounding the last bend, El Toro Loco turned for home with a 1-3/4 length lead and held sway to the line where he won in 1:57.4. 

El Toro Loco ($6.70) is owned by El Dorado Stable and Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith. 

Cummings, Smith and Torcello went on to team up for a hat trick as they also won with Yo A J (1:58.2, $7.90) and Heavensdor Hanover (1:57.2, $3.30) during the proceedings. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb. 3) at 3:00 p.m. and there will be a carryover of $1,807 USD in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 12th race.

(With files from Batavia Downs)