The weather was bad, the track was off and the competition came to play. But Natameri had all the answers on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Batavia Downs and won the featured $17,606 Open Handicap Pace in spite of it all.
Natameri (Kevin Cummings) left three-wide around the first turn and crossed-over to the lead at the quarter in :27.3 as I Aint No Mack (John Cummings Jr.) got the ticket to ride second. The field settled for only a few strides before Melanion N (Drew Monti) tipped from fifth and started the long trek towards the leader as they passed in front of the stands.
Heading up the backstretch, Natameri and Melanion N matched strides through the slop in a quick :28.4 panel. That battle continued into the turn and when they straightened for home, I Aint No Mack dipped into the passing lane to join the party and pushed hard as they drove for the line. I Aint No Mack continued to close, but Natameri was on a mission and hung on to win by one-half length in 1:55.3.
The win was the fifth in the last seven starts for Natameri ($15.22), who is owned by Purple Haze Stable and trained by Jessica Okusko. Now seven, the son of American Ideal - Native Daughter sports 31 career wins and $438,294 in earnings.
There were also two solid $16,056 Open II events on the card, one on each gait.
In the pace, Lip Reader A (Drew Monti) took no prisoners and led through quarters of :27.4, :58.3 and 1:26.2 before making the last left and heading down the lane by an increasing margin, eventually winning by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:54.4.
Maria Rice trains Lip Reader A ($8.18), who notched his eighth victory of the year for owners Vogel And Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing LLC. The 11-year-old veteran boasts 43 career wins while accruing $387,422 in earnings through his 164 lifetime appearances.
Then in the trot, Gone Crazee (Joe Chindano Jr.) sat fourth to the half before pulling first-over in chase of the frontrunning Biscoe (Jim McNeight Jr.), who she caught at the head of the stretch. Then as the pair headed down the lane, they trotted in tandem to the line where Gone Crazee edged ahead by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.3. )
Gone Crazee ($11.98) also picked up her eighth win of the season as well. The four-year-old daughter of Crazy Wow - My Gwenivere, now a 15-time winner with more than $121,000 in the bank, is owned by Marie Houghtaling and trained by Ron Houghtaling.
Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Oct. 15 with first post time at 6 p.m. There will be a $3,679 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 12th race.
(with files from Batavia)