A pair of $17,606 Opens – one on the trot and one on the pace – were featured at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Oct. 18, and both winners scored off first-up trips.

Valentine Express powered his way to victory in the Open Handicap Trot as the 6-1 fourth choice. He got away fourth for Joe Chindano Jr. as Crazy Ritz (Jim McNeight Jr.) parked out El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) through much of the first quarter in :28 before ceding the front. El Toro Loco then led to the half in :57.4, where Valentine Express was out and rolling first-over heading onto the second circuit.

Valentine Express methodically made up ground on El Toro Loco, drawing level at three-quarters in 1:27 before taking the lead approaching the final turn. From there, under strong urging from Chindano, Valentine Express shot into the lane and trotted home to a 2-3/4-length victory in 1:56.1. Crazy Ritz finished second over Dougadougadew (Kyle Cummings).

The win was the eighth of the year in 25 outings for Valentine Express ($14.58). The six-year-old son of Chapter Seven-Cantata improved to 27-for-126 lifetime and has now earned $371,731. Jerry Nugent Jr. trains the gelding for Rock 01 Stable Inc.

In the Open Handicap Pace, Melanion N turned a three-eighths move into his fifth win of the year. Drew Monti slotted him in fifth as Stakeholder (Dave McNeight III), Mea Culpa A (Kevin Cummings), and Lanjo Lee (Kyle Cummings) sprinted three-across the track to the quarter in :27.1 before Lanjo Lee finally landed on top. Lanjo Lee then paced unfettered on the front to the half in :56.3 before Melanion N approached him uncovered on the third turn.

Lanjo Lee fought hard to keep Melanion N on the rim, but the challenger had other ideas and cleared before three-quarters in 1:24.4. Immediately, Livonjaxandqueens (Denny Bucceri) was right outside of the new leader looking for paydirt. The two separated from the field as they headed down the lane, and Melanion N held off Livonjaxandqueens by a half-length in 1:53.1. Mea Culpa A was third.

Melanion N ($5.04) took a new seasonal mark in his 28th appearance of the year. The eight-year-old Bettors Delight-Georgias Jury gelding, owned by Dr. Michael Miller and trained by Maria Rice, is a 16-time winner in 91 lifetime outings and has earned $248,280. 

Monti and Chindano each had driving hat tricks while trainers Mike Deters and Sam Smith both sent two winners to post.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Oct. 22 with post time at 6 p.m., and there will be a $6,001 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 12th race. 

(Batavia Downs; photo of Melanion N winning on Oct. 18)