Outsiders in different senses of the word took the features on closing night at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Dec. 20, as a shipper from Saratoga Raceway and a local 10-1 shot romped in their respective Opens while dealing with heavy wind gusts and a track rated good.

Spa invader Hunter Hill made quick and easy work of the local entries in the $17,123 Open I-II Handicap Pace. He travelled second behind I Aint No Mack (Kevin Cummings) to the :27.2 quarter before pulling and taking the lead for Drew Monti prior to reaching the half in :57. From there, Hunter Hill marched on the point to three-quarters in 1:26, facing a challenge from Toreador Gb (Joe Chindano Jr.) during that panel. But Hunter Hill put that threat to rest around the last turn, and when he straightened for home, the gelding swelled up and bolted to the line to win by 4-3/4 lengths in 1:56. Toreador Gb finished second, followed by Stranger Things (Shawn McDonough).

After going off as a longshot in four of his previous five starts at Saratoga, Hunter Hill was well-backed at Batavia and returned $5.04 for the win. The eight-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Alie Blue is owned and trained by Scott West of Rockwood, Ont. He is now 36-for-194 lifetime with $323,384 in earnings.

In the $17,123 Open Trot, the parimutuelly overlooked Dougadougadew drafted through a perfect trip and struck late for his second win in a row. Kyle Cummings had Dougadougadew cozy in the pocket behind El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) through splits of :28.4, 1:00.1 and 1:29.4 as the rest of the field lagged three lengths adrift of the leaders. As the top pair came off the final bend, Dougadougadew pulled off the pegs, got in gear, and blew past El Toro Loco en route to a 4-1/4-length victory in 2:00.1. Biscoe (Jim McNeight Jr.) was third, two lengths behind El Toro Loco.

Dougadougadew ($22.24), who is owned by Doug and Tyra Ackley of Gowanda, N.Y., is now 21-for-86 lifetime with a bankroll of $232,546. The six-year-old Deweycheatumnhowe-Fashionablefilly gelding is trained by Tammy Cummings.

The triple threat of driver Kevin Cummings, trainer Sam Smith and owner Mike Torcello struck again with three winners on the 15-race getaway card at The Downs, putting an exclamation point on their very successful seasons. The trio scored with True That (2:00.2, $6.34), Nautical Hanover (1:59, $3.52), and Wild Bill Kelso (2:02.3, $2.94). Cummings and Smith also clicked with Tymal Envoy (2:01.4, $2.46) for Three Ring Circus Stable.

The grand slam concluded a training title defence for Smith, who finished the meet on top with 64 wins. Shawn McDonough finished second with 54 victories, and Chris Petrelli was third with 34. Smith, a fifth-year trainer, has 152 wins overall on the season in 871 starts.

Drew Monti made it back-to-back seasons at the leading driver at Batavia, winning twice on closing day to bring his meet total to 110. Kevin Cummings took second with his finale four-bagger, finishing with 85. Joe Chindano Jr. finished third on 84.

Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs in 2026 on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 3 p.m. 

(With files from Batavia Downs; photo of Hunter Hill winning on Dec. 20)