The fleet-footed four-year-old Twisted Destiny commanded the speed throughout the race to win the $68,493 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace in impressive fashion on Saturday, Aug. 22 at Batavia Downs. 

Howlenthehills (Matt Kakaley) was first off the gate and took the lead coming out of turn one. But Twisted Destiny (Shawn Gray) immediately pulled from second and flew to the front before tripping the timer for the quarter in :27.2. From there, Twisted Destiny reached the half in :56.1, and as the field made its way to the backstretch, the top two horses began to separate.

Twisted Destiny picked up the pace with a :27.2 split and reached three-quarters in 1:23.3, with Howlenthehills 1-3/4 lengths behind and the rest of the field 3-3/4 lengths and more off the lead. Gray sat chilly around the last bend as Twisted Destiny was on cruise, and the leader paced home under a high-line to a 2-1/4-length score in 1:50.4, off a :54.3 back half. Howlenthehills was second, followed by Congressional (Kevin Wallis).

The time of 1:50.4 was the third-fastest mile ever paced in the Kane, ranking behind only Captain Albano (1:50.1 - 2025) and  (1:50.2 - 2022). 

The win was the fifth of the year in 17 starts for the favoured Twisted Destiny ($3.78), who is owned by Let It Ride Stables Inc., Enviro Stables Ltd., Jesmeral Stable and Richard Freese. Virgil Morgan Jr. trains the winning son of Bettors Wish-Tug River Princess, who is now 16-for-41 lifetime.

Although winless in the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) in six previous attempts this year, Fearless Partners was not only able to taste victory for the first time in the 2026 series by winning his $79,452 division, he put an exclamation mark on his effort by tying the track record for three-year-old pacing geldings in the process.

Fearless Partners (Drew Monti) got away fourth and was 12-1/4 lengths back of favoured Knoxville (Matt Kakaley), who led to the quarter in an expeditious :26.1. Knoxville was on a mission as Kakaley kept the pedal to the metal from there and passed the half in :54.1, gapping the rest. As the group started on the second circuit, things got closer as the pocket-sitting Hunting Glory (Ridge Warren) and outside advancer Aries Blue Chip (Leon Bailey) were within touching distance to Knoxville as they went by five-eighths.

When Knoxville reached three-quarters in 1:23.4, Hunting Glory pulled first-over as Aries Blue Chip faded out of contention. That left an opening for Fearless Partners to pull behind Hunting Glory and draft behind him around the last turn. At the top of the stretch, Monti went inside instead of out, taking Fearless Partners back down to the passing lane where he drew alongside Knoxville and forged ahead by a half-length in to win in 1:52.1. Hunting Glory finished third.

The time was a lifetime mark for the Fearless Partners and also tied the track record that was set last year by Fast Choice in NYSS action.

Fearless Partners ($26.62), a son of American Ideal-No Fear Dear, is owned by Robert Leblanc, Pryde Stables Inc., Joe Sbracco and JAF Racing and William Beattie. The winner is now three-for-10 this year and four-for-18 lifetime.

There was a $77,945 NYSS split that was contested as a non-betting event before the first race, and Cooperstown Boy won his second straight series start.

Cooperstown Boy (Colin Kelly) sat second behind Unmatched Wisdom (Leon Bailey) through splits of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:25.4 as the field of four did not change positions during that time. At the top of the stretch, Cooperstown Boy tipped out and paced right by Unmatched Wisdom to win by two lengths in 1:53.4. Hard To Forget (Ridge Warren) took second over Unmatched Wisdom.

Cooperstown Boy is four-for-eight in his debut season. Jared Bako trains the son of Huntsville-Twinsburg for NY Seb Inc.

One $27,397 New York Excelsior Series event for sophomore male pacers also took place on Saturday. The Matt Kakaley-driven Rough Deal ($10.18) took the lead past the half and paced home clear by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:54.1, which was a new lifetime mark. Rough Deal, a son of American Ideal-Ruffies Kiss, is owned and was bred by Greg Hayter and trained by Travis Alexander. 

Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Wednesday at 5 p.m. and will feature the New York Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies.

(With files from Batavia Downs)