Ms Michelle D and driver Dan Noble teamed up to take the $9,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Batavia Downs Wednesday night.

Ms Michelle D ($12.80) sat the pocket behind the pace-setting Hugs Again and managed to sneak through in the passing lane, and waited patiently to put her head in front just before the wire to score the victory. Ms Michelle D went the mile in 1:56 after Hugs Again set fractions of :28.1, 57.2 and 1:26.4. Delightful Syd finished third.

It was the seventh win of the season for Ms Michelle D, who is owned by Jim Dunn of Hamburg, N.Y. and Joe Dunn of Blasdell, N.Y. Jim Dunn trained the winner.

The win with Ms Michelle D was just one of three Noble guided home on the evening. Jack Flanigen also had a driving three-bagger.

The racing continues this week on Friday night at Batavia Downs with a 13-race program slated to begin at 6:25 p.m.

The New York State Sire Stakes and Excelsior Series comes to town with the two-year-old trotting fillies taking the spotlight. There are four divisions of the Sires Stakes worth more than $29,000 each and four divisions of the Excelsior Series worth nearly $13,000 apiece.

(Batavia Downs)