Brett Beckwith caught fire at Batavia Downs on Thursday, Jan. 15, providing one of several strong performances on a card affected by heavy oscillating snow squalls and temperatures hovering around -10 degrees during the afternoon.
After winning twice on the Tuesday Batavia program, the 22-year-old Meadowlands regular added another five wins to his card on Thursday, including a natural hat trick in the final three races. He is now 25-for-89 to start 2026, a win rate of 28 per cent. Beckwith won with Timeto Communicate (2:02, $2.74), Mcvera (2:02, $6.36), Woodmere Alvin (1:59, $8.32), Machaholic (2:02.3, $5.84) and Beacon Beach.
Beacon Beach won the co-featured $17,361 Open I-II Handicap Trot in gate-to-wire fashion. Beckwith took command with the Resolve-Black Caviar gelding from a pylon start and rated him to fractions of :29.1, 1:00.2 and 1:30.4, and the six-year-old comfortably sealed the deal by 1-3/4 lengths in 2:00.1. Starlitcresentroll (Drew Monti) finished second, followed by Discus Hanover (Leon Bailey). Beacon Beach ($5.02) is owned by El Dorado Stables and trained by Sam Smith. The win was his 14th lifetime in 85 outings.
In the co-featured $17,361 Open Handicap Pace, Hunter Hill won the hard way, pulling away in the lane after getting parked every step of the mile.
It was a five-horse, three-deep scramble for the lead off the gate before things straightened out up the backstretch. Davey Day Trader (Kyle Swift) eventually settled on the front passing the quarter in :27.4, while all the other leavers dropped into open spots. That is except for Hunter Hill, who was out in the breeze fifth for Drew Monti as they came off turn two to pass the stands the first time. Davey Day Trader got to the half in :58.1 while Hunter Hill made his way to second on the outside nearing five-eighths.
Hunter Hill drew alongside Davey Day Trader approaching three-quarters in 1:27.4, and the pair was joined by Stranger Things (Shawn McDonough), who had swung three-deep and was flying. As the trio made their way around the turn, Hunter hill began to separate from the others and was clear by a length as he straightened for home. Hunter Hill then swelled up and broke the beam ahead by two lengths in 1:58.1. Stranger Things finished second over Primo Uomo (Bailey).
Hunter Hill ($6.98), a nine-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Ali Blue, is now 37-for-195 lifetime. He is owned and trained by Scott West.
Hunter Hill was the first of three consecutive wins for Monti, who followed it up with victories by Kbssweetcaroline (2:01, $2.92) and Rock Me Always (1:59.1, $9.80). The latter two are both owned by El Dorado Stables and Mike Torcello.
Rock Me Always is trained by Mae Smith, who also won with Tymal Envoy (2:01.2, $4.54) and the aforementioned Machaholic, giving her a hat trick of her own to lead all conditioners for wins on Thursday. She is three-for-five this season, her third as a trainer.
Live racing will resume at Batavia on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 3 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs; photo of Beacon Beach winning on Jan. 15)