A F F Bigdaddy continued to be a hot horse among the top-class pacers at Batavia Downs as he won his second-straight $11,500 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday, Oct. 13.
Bugatti inherited the top as the field lined up single file and in post-position order. After reaching the quarter in :28 flat, In Runaway Bay pulled first up at the three-eighths and brought A F F Bigdaddy with him. Positions remained unchanged from the half to the three-quarters with the race proceeding in 1:25.3.
As the pacers were rounding the final turn, driver Denny Bucceri swung A F F Bigdaddy three deep at the apex. Under a full head of steam, A F F Bigdaddy paced by In Runaway Bay and then Bugatti before opening up a three-length lead and hitting the wire a wrapped-up 1:54.1 winner.
It was the fifth win in the last eights starts for A F F Bigdaddy, who now has seven wins for the year along with $41,393 in earnings. Jennifer and Marcus Rogowski own the five-year-old Sir Luck gelding who is trained by Steve Kiblin. He paid $10.80 to win.
In the $9,900 Open II Handicap, Cool Like Fire came from off the pace late amid a four-horse charge down the lane by a length in 1:54.2 - his fifth on the year. Cool Like Fire, paying $14.20 to win, is owned by William Emmons, trained by Jim Clouser Jr. and was driven by Billy Davis Jr.
Four drivers scored doubles on Saturday night. Drew Monti, Jim Morrill Jr., Billy Davis Jr. and Denny Bucceri all got a pair across during the proceedings.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Oct. 17 with post time set for 5 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs)