The venerable 11-year-old Shoobee Doo A scored his 55th career win with an impressive victory in the $18,750 Open Handicap Pace, one of two featured races at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Sept. 5.

Shoobee Doo A (Gareth Dowse) played hardball with Total Stranger (John Cummings Jr.) by parking him past the :27.1 quarter before releasing him to the front. As soon as Total Stranger cleared, Dowse was right back out with Shoobee Doo A to retake the lead before reaching the half in :55.3. As the field moved onto the second circuit, Nautical Hanover (Kevin Cummings) made a first-over bid and drew within a nose of Shoobee Doo A at the 1:24.4 three-quarters.

Positions remained unchanged around turn four, but as the horses turned for home, Nautical Hanover faded while Total Stranger entered the passing lane, and Luck Is Up (Brett MacDonald) was flying on the outside into contention. All three horses made a late push to the wire, but Shoobee Doo A would not relent and won by a neck in 1:54. Total Stranger was a narrow second over Luck Is Up.

The win was the seventh of the year in 16 starts for Shoobee Doo A ($5.06), who has now earned $681,507 lifetime from 170 starts. The gelded son of Shoobees Place-Lavish Art is owned by P T Stable and trained by Sheena Cohen.

In the $18,750 Open Handicap Trot, Valentine Express went first-up past the half to win for the fifth time this year in 22 tries.

Valentine Express (Jim McNeight Jr.) got away third as Shine All The Way (Dave McNeight III) and Treasured Tee (Drew Monti) traded leads en route to the :28.3 quarter. Treasured Tee finally settled in and throttled down to the half in :58, catching a breather before being confronted by Valentine Express as they motored up the backstretch.

Valentine Express made his way to second in the breeze passing three-quarters in 1:27.1 as Treasured Tee was beginning to feel the heat. By the time the trotters were turning for home, Treasured Tee was under siege by Valentine Express on his outside and the tripped-out Shine All The Way, who had dipped into the passing lane. Shine All The Way and Valentine Express both passed Treasured Tee in mid-stretch and matched strides all the way to the line, where a photo discerned that Valentine Express had won by a neck in 1:57. Treasured Tee completed the top three.

Valentine Express ($8.02) is owned by Rock 01 Stable Inc. and trained by Jerry Nugent Jr. The seven-year-old Chapter Seven-Cantata gelding is now 32-for-154 lifetime with $466,247 in the bank.

Joe Chindano Jr., Kevin Cummings and Drew Monti all had two driving wins on Saturday while 11 different trainers won one race apiece.

Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Monday at 12:15 p.m. with continued Labor Day weekend promotions, including the annual driver/trainer bicycle race, bicycle giveaway and chicken bar-b-que during the matinee card.

(With files from Batavia Downs)