Driver Shawn Gray made the four-hour drive from Saratoga Springs, N.Y. to Batavia Downs on Saturday, Aug. 1 worth it as he swept the $13,380 conditioned features with Double Class and Moved Bythe Spirit.

The trot went first, and Double Class scored for the fifth time this season in 22 starts with a front-end effort.

Gray put Double Class right on the point and with Mister Squeeze (Drew Monti) sitting on his back, led through fractions of :29.2, 1:00.1 and 1:30. The two horses maintained their positions while they split away from the field in the far turn, but when they turned for home, Monti tipped Mister Squeeze and took direct aim at Double Class. Mister Squeeze was trotting hard and drew alongside Double Class in deep stretch, but Double Class would not let him by and crossed the line first by a nose in 1:58.3. Kenobi (Joe Chindano Jr.) was third.

Double Class ($4.50) is owned by James Clouser Jr. and trained by Ron Beback Jr. The six-year-old Class Included-Double Ivory gelding is now 23-for-135 lifetime.

In the pace, Gray tried to leave with Moved Bythe Spirit but took back to fourth as Winmebak (Brett MacDonald) pushed out to the lead and set the first-quarter time of :27. As the field passed the half in :57, Handsoffmytitos (Dave McNeight III) pulled first-over from third, and Gray was out again with Moved Bythe Spirit as they turned for the backstretch. Positions remained unchanged to three-quarters in 1:25.2 where Handsoffmytitos stalled, forcing Moved Bythe Spirit three-deep around him in the far turn, where he engaged Winmebak before entering the lane. Winmebak stayed even for about six pylons, but Moved Bythe Spirit was the better horse this night and pulled away to a 1-3/4-length win in 1:54.4. Winmebak held second, with Thor De Vie (Kevin Cummings) third.

Moved Bythe Spirit ($13.94) won for the fourth time in his last five starts to move to seven-for-23 on the season. The seven-year-old son of Western Vintage-Lord I Apologize, now 31-for-118 lifetime, was trained by Taylor Fritz and owned by Lucky Label Stable LLC but was claimed in Saturday's win.

Gray also won with Chapter Twelve (2:00, $14.72) and Batting Stats (2:00.2, $5.22) to complete a four-bagger on the 12-race program. 

Gray wasn’t the only hot driver Saturday, as Dave McNeight III and Drew Monti both had hat tricks during the night as well, meaning the three accounted for winning 10 of the 12 races. There were also three trainers tied for top honours as Taylor Fritz, Sam Smith and Chris Petrelli each won twice during the proceedings. 

Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. There will be a $1,971 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the 13th race. 

(With files from Batavia Downs)