Saratoga shippers have been a major factor at Batavia Downs this meet, and that trend continued on Sunday, Aug. 2 when Larry Stalbaum rolled in with a pair of his stable stars and left with the lion’s share of the purse after winning both $19,014 Opens as the heavily bet favourites.

First in the Open Pace, Rocknroll Runa A ($3.26) made his first start since March and turned it into his third win of the year after pacing gate to wire without a challenge.

Stalbaum was on top in two steps with Rocknroll Runa A, who then settled in and tripped the timer in :28.1, :56.4 and 1:25 to three-quarters, while maintaining a gapped length advantage and encountering no challenges from behind. As the field moved through turn four, Rocknroll Runa A started to separate from the group under a line drive from Stalbaum. Turning for home, the field was stacked up behind Rocknroll Runa A, who paced away with ease to score a 2-3/4-length victory in 1:53.3 over the "good" track. Total Stranger (John Cummings Jr.) and Lyons Surfing (Gareth Dowse) finished second and third, respectively.

Rocknroll Runa A, a millionaire son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Shes A Runa, is also owned and trained by Stalbaum. The victory for the nine-year-old gelding was his 43rd lifetime.

Then in the Open Handicap Trot, Makeorbreakzaz S ($2.88) made a break and had broken equipment past the quarter, but overcame that miscue to win anyhow with a stellar stretch drive.

Makeorbreakzaz S got away a gapped sixth as several horses vehemently argued for the lead. Dougadougadew (Kylle Cummings) forced Shine All The Way (Dave McNeight III) into the pocket before Crazy Ritz (Jimmy McNeight Jr.) pulled from third to address Dougadougadew and take the lead at the quarter in :27.1. Makeorbreakzaz S broke and looked hopelessly out of it at the top of the stretch, as the field headed to the half.

Crazy Ritz continued to lead passing the stands  in :56.4 but gave up control to Shine All The Way in the clubhouse turn, while Makeorbreakzaz S finally caught the pack and was moving three-deep around fading horses. Shine All The Way reached three-quarters in 1:25.3 with Makeorbreakzaz S up to third and closing furiously. With his lead diminished to only four lengths, Shine All The Way turned for home but was under siege from Makeorbreakzaz S, who reeled him in just before the line and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.4. El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) finished up in second, 5-1/2 lengths back.

Makeorbreakzaz S is also trained and owned by Stalbaum, in partnership with Eric Prevost of Boynton Beach, Florida. The six-year-old Nuncio-Spritte Zaz gelding has won two of his three starts since arriving in North America and now has 11 career victories with just shy of $180,000 in earnings.

Live harness racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 5 p.m. There will be a $2,948 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the 13th race. There was another carryover after Sunday’s card and that was $985 in the Pick-5. As a result, there will also be a $3,000 guaranteed pool for that wager on Wednesday, in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program. The Pick-5 wager starts in race one. 

(With files from Batavia Downs; photo of Rocknroll Runa A winning on Aug. 2)