Strong 60 mph wind gusts made racing tough at Batavia Downs on Monday, Jan. 27, but four-year-old pacing mare Maggie Bell still delivered a stellar performance in a featured $15,714 upper-level condition race, winning her third straight race since arriving at the New York half-mile oval and maintaining her perfect record in 2025.
Brett Beckwith settled Maggie Bell in fourth as Oaxacan Dream N (Dave McNeight III) led through slow fractions of :29.1 and 1:00.2. At the five-eighths pole, Maggie Bell moved first-over with the wind at her back, drawing alongside Oaxacan Dream N in the final turn. In the stretch, Maggie Bell powered past Oaxacan Dream N and held off a fast-closing Mcvera (Shawn McDonough) to win by a head in 1:59.1.
A daughter of Shadow Play out of Dress To Suggest, Maggie Bell ($9.80) notched her fifth win in the last seven starts racing for trainer Jaymes Mcassey and owner Delpozo Schwartz Paoleti.
Beckwith also won the $21,429 final of the Batavia Downs Trackmaster 74 Series with pacing mare Samosa Hanover after tipping three-wide at three-quarters and edging out Shoreview (Drew Monti) by a head at the line in 1:58.3. Samosa Hanover ($7) is owned by Lucky Label Stable and trained by Taylor Fritz.
In the $17,857 Trackmaster 72.5 Series final for trotters, Caviars Yankee (Mike Baumeister) grabbed the lead before the half and turned away the pocket-sitting Poets N Pirates (Drew Monti) in the lane to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:00.4. Caviars Yankee ($6) is owned by Jennifer Signor and trained by Jake Baumeister.
Finally, the $17,143 Trackmaster 70 Series final was won by pacer Koup Kruiser (Jim McNeight Jr.), who led from gate to wire and stopped the clock at 2:00.1. Koup Kruiser ($2.80) is owned by Two Gals Stable and trained by Jim McNeight.
Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday, Jan. 30, with a 3 p.m. post time. There will be a carryover of $1,318 in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in Race 14.
(With files from Batavia Downs)