After being victorious in the first Open Pace of the season at Batavia Downs on July 26, Western Alumni hasn't visited the winner's circle since. But that drought came to an end on Saturday night (Oct. 11) when he put on a powerful performance in winning the $9,250 pacing feature at the Downs.
Western Alumni (Jim McNeight) left sharp and took the lead before Best Ears (Jack Flanigen) brushed by to unseat him at the quarter. The rest of the field stayed single-file to the half before Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) came off the wood and started motoring.
As the group went up the backside, Peenie (Mickey Holliday) pulled underneath Fireyourguns and went backward, causing Fireyourguns to tip three-deep.
Then around the far turn the top two broke away from the field and it appeared obvious the race was going to one of them. Western Alumni tipped and out-dueled Best Ears to the wire, winning in a sparkling 1:53.2. The time was a seasonal mark for Western Alumni. Best Ears hung on for second and What The Sheik brushed home to be third.
The win was the seventh in 30 starts for Western Alumni ($13.80) and pushed his 2014 earnings to $61,517 for owner North Creek Racing LLC. The sic-year-old son of Western Hanover is trained by Jerry Nugent Jr.
Drew Monti, Shawn McDonough and Jim McNeight all scored driving doubles on the night.
(Batavia Downs)