Saratoga Raceway-based horsemen have been making their presence felt at Batavia Downs since the 2025 winter meet began. Monday, Jan. 13 was no exception after driver Brett Beckwith and trainers Jaymes McAssey and Gary Levine all posted noteworthy performances, where heavy snow squalls were a factor for a majority of the program.
Beckwith won five races on the card including a victory in the night’s feature race. He scored with Justine ($10.60), Takemetochurch Deo ($5.80), and Samosa Hanover ($5.30) along with Maggie Bell ($6.40) and Mary Kat ($7.40).
Despite moving up in class after a convincing victory at Batavia Downs last week, Maggie Bell bounced right back with another impressive win in the $15,942 featured pace for fillies and mares.
Beckwith pushed Maggie Bell to the front and took the lead from Mcvera (Shawn McDonough) as the race passed the quarter. Once on the point, Maggie Bell backed the half down to a comfortable :59.1 before encountering a challenge from Penthousepalace (Joe Chindano Jr.), who was pacing first-over in the breeze as the group traversed the backstretch for the second time.
Penthousepalace got the lead at three-quarters but was unable to cross over, as Maggie Bell stiffened up and came back along the pegs to reclaim control at the top of the stretch. Scenic Adventure (Kevin Cummings), Oaxaca Dream N (Drew Monti) and the pocket-sitting Mcvera all came into play as the girls made their way towards home and the trio was in hot pursuit of Maggie Bell. But Maggie Bell refused to lose and was never headed, crossing the line first by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.2. Mcvera was second, while Scenic Adventure completed the top three.
The victory was the second straight and fourth in the last six outings for Maggie Bell, who is owned by Delpozo Scwartz Paoleti and trained by Jaymes McAssey.
Later in the fifth race, Beckwith drove the pacing mare Mary Kat to a one-length, 1:59.3 victory to give owner and trainer Gary Levine his 1,100th career training win.
Beckwith was just named the 2024 Dan Patch Rising Star by the United States Harness Writers Association and will be honoured at the Dan Patch Banquet on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 3 p.m.
There will be a $1,056 carryover in the Pick-5 wager in race one and a carryover of $274 in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in race 15.
(With files from Batavia Downs)