Sent off as the 1-2 favourite in the $13,768 filly and mare conditioned pace at Batavia Downs on Monday, Feb. 3, Oaxacan Dream N delivered on expectations, cruising to a gate-to-wire victory over a sloppy track for her first win of 2025.

Dave McNeight III sent Oaxacan Dream N straight to the front, setting fractions of :30, :59 and 1:29.2 through three-quarters. Holding a 1-1/4-length lead over pocket-sitter Scenic Adventure (Kevin Cummings), she faced no serious challengers and cruised home to a 1-1/2-length win in 1:59.1. Penthouse Palace (Joseph Chindano Jr.) was the distant third-place finisher. 

Oaxacan Dream N, who returned $3 to win, is trained by Maria Rice and owned by Vogel And Wags Nags. The nine-year-old Big Jim-Verde Lima mare earned her 24th career win, bringing her lifetime earnings to $257,851.

That was one of the few highlights for chalk bettors on Monday, as the conditions suggested that smart money should have been placed on price plays.

The run of overlooked victors started in the first race with Matticulous GB ($14.40) and continued with Fireworks Flash ($11.60), Sake Bomb ($28.40), Bugatti ($27.60), Celia Bayama ($54.50) and closed out the card with Justine ($56.60), who was eighth and last at the half, tipped three-deep at three-quarters, came off the far turn five-deep and still seventh before bolting to the line a winner by a nose in a photo. Celia Bayama and Justine teamed up to provide a late daily double that returned $1,430 for a $2 wager.  

Several horsemen had multiple wins on Monday. Drivers Kevin Cummings and Joe Chindano Jr. each scored a hat trick while trainers Chris Petrelli, David Russo, and Sam Smith all had two wins apiece. 

Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. There will be a pair of carryovers for the betting faithful. First, there will be a $1,374 carryover in the Pick-5 in Race 1 and later, a $2,885 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in Race 13. 

(With files from Batavia Downs)