It was ability more than chance that saw Lucky Charm go gate to wire in the $7,500 Mares Open Trot at Batavia Downs on the Columbus Day matinee card at the Genesee County oval.

Kevin Cummings shook-up Lucky Charm off the gate and took an effortless lead around the first turn. From there the eight-year-old Malabar Man mare towed the field through a pedestrian half before picking up the tempo from there. After a :29.1 third quarter that saw Highway Cash (Doug Ackley) and Day Planner (Ray Fisher, Jr.) advance into contention, Lucky Charm came home in :28.4 to fend off the three-wide attack from her competition and win in 1:58.3. Day Planner was second and Highway Cash finished third.

It was the fourth win in 21 starts for Lucky Charm and brought her 2014 earnings up to $23,800 for owners Finish Line Investors and Johnny Yoder. Lucky Charm is trained by John Mungillo.

Driver Kevin Cummings was on fire Monday, with five wins, three seconds and a third out of the 11 races he was in. He scored with Love Me Do ($5.00), Donegal Jim ($2.10), Lucky Charm ($5.60), Emmys Junior Grin ($7.00) and Serendipitious ($2.50).

The ‘Race for the Cannolis”, which is held annually on Columbus Day at Batavia Downs and pits drivers of Italian-American descent against each other, was won by Rock C. Vinci aboard Windsong Destroyer in 1:58.2. The 10-year-old won by a length over Evening Shadows (Mike Caprio) after getting a perfect two-hole trip.

(Batavia Downs)