Tulsa Bell notched her third straight victory as she took the $17,568 Batavia Downs Winter Series Final for trotters in fine fashion on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Batavia Downs.

Andy Over (Ray Fisher Jr.) gained an early lead before yielding to stablemate Vondell Kemp (Jim McNeight Jr.) past the quarter in :29.1. As they made their way around turn two, an early outer flow started up with Gone Goodbye (Shawn McDonough) leading the way. Hobbs (Wade Tomaszewski) followed him before ducking back to the inside, leaving Tulsa Bell (Kyle Cummings) second-over past the half in 1:00.2.

Gone Goodbye bowed out on the backstretch, forcing Tulsa Bell to swing three-deep heading to three-quarters in 1:31.1. But that didn’t affect Tulsa Bell, who marched forward and battled with Vondell Kemp into the final bend. The top two trotters matched strides to the top of the stretch, where Tulsa Bell pulled away from Vondell Kemp and held off a late surge from Andy Over to win by a quarter-length in 2:02. Vondell Kemp held third.

Tulsa Bell ($4.50) is now three-for-four this year for owner John Byler and trainer Tammy Cummings. The eight-year-old daughter of Dontyouforgetit-Keystone Isabella improved to 30-for-204 lifetime.

Shawn McDonough was a busy man on the nine-race card as both a trainer and driver. He trained three winners, consisting of Mingo Joel (2:00.4, $7.70) and Major Escape (2:02, $23.96), both of which he also drove, and Justine (2:00.3, $6.26), who was driven by Ray Fisher Jr. McDonough's trainees are now five-for-40 in the new year.

Racing will resume at Batavia for the last time this winter meet on Thursday, Feb. 5. There are two more Batavia Downs Winter Series finals on tap, both on the pace. They are carded as Races 5 and 7 and are worth $11,000 USD and $14,000 USD, respectively. Post time for the first race is 1 p.m.

With no winner in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta on Tuesday, there is a $1,511 carryover for that wager in the ninth race on Thursday, and that pool will be guaranteed at $5,000 through the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering program. Since it’s the last day of the meet, it will also be a must-pay situation. Free full past performances will be free to download (when available) at ustrotting.com under the Handicapping tab. 

(With files from Batavia Downs)