The weekly $17,606 Open Handicaps for the best pacers and trotters at Batavia Downs were once again held on Saturday, Nov. 8, and the winners of both were piloted by the track’s leading driver, Drew Monti.

The pacers lined up first in their Open Handicap contest, and Lip Reader A led at every station en route to his victory. Davey Day Trader (Dave McNeight III) took an early lead, but Lip Reader A pulled from third, claimed the lead, and never looked back. After cutting fractions of :28.2, :57.4, and 1:25.4, Lip Reader A cruised around the last bend and raced for home to win in 1:54 by 1-1/2 lengths over Davey Day Trader. Stranger Things (Kevin Cummings) was third.

Lip Reader A ($4.96) has won three of his past five starts and is now 44-for-167 lifetime. The 11-year-old Maria Rice-trained son of Sportswriter-Strike Line is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags LLC and Team Rice Racing LLC. He has won nine of 27 tries this season.

Gone Crazee made one move after the half to win the Open Handicap Trot. She got away third as Dougadougadew (Kyle Cummings) and Biscoe (Jim McNeight Jr.) traded leads heading to the quarter, with Biscoe in front at that station in :30.1. Biscoe then moseyed to the half in :59.2, when Monti tipped Gone Crazee and started to move forward in turn three. Gone Crazee took the lead from Biscoe at three-quarters in 1:28.2 but couldn’t cross over, so the pair matched strides around the last turn. Dougadougadew then tipped three-high at the bottom of the bend, and it turned into a real horse race in the stretch. Gone Crazee still had the lead and put Biscoe away, then rebuffed Dougadougadew, and finally held off a closing Valentine Express (Joe Chindano Jr.) to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.1. Dougadougadew was third.

Gone Crazee ($12) improved to 16-for-55 lifetime in her ninth win from 24 outings this year. The four-year-old daughter of Crazy Wow-My Gwenivere is owned by Marie Houghtaling and trained by Ron Houghtaling.

Monti also won with Timeto Communicate (1:59.1, $4.14) in the third race, one of three victories on the 12-race program.

Driver Kevin Cummings posted a natural hat trick in Races 4-6. He won with I Aint No Mack (1:54.4, $6.72), Soul Assassin (1:55.3, $4.18), and Bettor Of The West (1:56.1, $12.30).

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Nov. 12, with post time at 6 p.m. There will be a $2,098 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the 12th race. 

(With files from Batavia Downs)