Lanjo Lee and El Toro Loco both led from gate to wire en route to victory in their respective Open events at Batavia Downs on Sunday, July 26.

Lanjo Lee turned in his fastest performance of the year in the $19,014 Open Pace. Kyle Cummings sent the gelding to the front from post three, and Lanjo Lee produced early panels of :28.1 and :58.1. The pace quickened when Lip Reader A (Drew Monti) came calling in the breeze, pacing alongside Lanjo Lee at three-quarters in 1:26.1. The two matched strides around the bend, but Lanjo Lee had the swifter foot by the time they reached the stretch. After putting away Lip Reader A, Lanjo Lee bolted home under no urging from Cummings and won by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:53.4 with a :55.3 last half and :27.3 final quarter. Lip Reader A finished second over Trente Deo (Denny Bucceri).

Lanjo Lee, a Western New York free-for-all mainstay, recorded his fifth win of the year in 18 outings, all at the Open level. The Tammy Cummings-trained So Surreal-My Drag Queen seven-year-old is 39-for-115 lifetime for owner Gordon Swift. He paid $7.76 to win.

El Toro Loco exerted his dominance in the $19,014 Open Handicap Trot. He was given the go-ahead early from Shawn Gray, and the pair took up residency on the point, where Gray sat chilly for the rest of the race that never seemed in doubt. With Hp Maestro (Denny Bucceri) sitting a loose pocket, El Toro Loco glided through fractions of :29, :59.2 and 1:27.4, widening his lead to 2-3/4 lengths at the end of the third stanza. Coming off turn four, Gray gave El Toro Loco a slight reminder, and the trotter responded by motoring home ahead by three lengths in 1:57.2. Dougadougadew (Kyle Cummings) closed for second over Crazy Ritz (James McNeight Jr.).

Another Western New York Open regular, El Toro Loco improved to five-for-16 this year for trainer Sam Smith and owner Michael Torcello. The seven-year-old son of Walner-Southwind Cabaret took his 29th career victory in 126 starts. His win price was $5.42.

Gray, Brett MacDonald and Drew Monti were the top drivers for the 12-race afternoon with three wins apiece. Dave Russo, Sam Smith and Walter Whelan topped all trainers with two tallies each. 

Live racing will resume at Batavia on Wednesday, July 29 at 5 p.m.

(With files from Batavia Downs)