It was a pretty simple scenario in the Open Pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 27). Arguably the two best horses in the race slugged it out head-to-head and one was left standing. That one was Fireyourguns.

Even-money post time favourite What The Sheik (Jim Morrill Jr.) went right to the front to take the lead, a move he hasn’t made since mid-August. He paced uncontested through pedestrian fractions of :28 and :57.3 before Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) fired it up on the outside after getting away last. By the three-quarters, Fireyourguns was staring What The Sheik in the eye when Caprio popped the plugs and asked the five-year-old American Ideal gelding for more. The pair paced around the far turn in tandem-style and battled through mid-stretch before Fireyourguns got to the tiring What The Sheik and paced home to win by an easy length in 1:54.2.

The winner paid $6.40. Western Alumni (Jim McNeight), who sat second the whole mile, finished in the same spot and What The Sheik hung on for show.

The win was the 11th in 19 starts this year for Fireyourguns and boosted his 2014 earnings to $81,405 for owners Terrence McClory and Jennifer and Robert Lowe.

The feature was one of the few races Jim Morrill Jr. didn’t win Saturday as he scored a five-bagger on the night. He won with Unicorn Hanover ($12.00) and Santannas Gal ($4.70) to take both halves of the early Double ($24.40) and then continued to tally with Auditorial ($5.00), Yosemite Cam ($2.50) and Whipmeintoshape ($5.60).

Dave McNeight III and Jim McNeight also registered consecutive driving doubles.

Racing resumes Tuesday night (Sept. 30) at Batavia Downs with post time set for 6:35 p.m. Just a reminder the races can be watched live locally and Time Warner cable channel 98 on both Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

(Batavia Downs)