The second leg of the Octoberfest Claiming Series was held at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Oct. 14 with seven divisions of claiming pacers competing for $14,286 each.
There were two repeat winners from week one — J B Gram and Sharky Bear — and both were headed for new stables after Wednesday's wins as a result of being claimed.
J B Gram (Kevin Cummings) left from post two and led the entire mile. After stepping off fractions of :28.3, :58 and 1:26.4, J B Gram turned for home and kicked away by two lengths to win in 1:56. Camco Lucas (John Cummings Jr.) was second, followed by Pepper Jack Flash (Joe Chindano Jr.). J B Gram ($2.94), a six-year-old Tellitlikeitis-Faith Leigh gelding, was owned by Ben Ortiz and trained by Shawn McDonough. He is 17-for-114 lifetime.
Sharky Bear (Kevin Cummings) got away second behind Jojos Place (Brady Galliers) in a :27.1 quarter but quickly made his way to the front before the half in :56 and stayed there for the duration. Sharky Bear was under heavy duress to three-quarters in 1:26.1 with Pink Floyd Hanover (Drew Monti) and Motive Hanover (Joe Chindano Jr.) pushing two- and three-deep, respectively, from there to the top of the stretch. Sharky Bear matched strides with Motive Hanover all the way to the wire and hung on to win by a quarter-length in 1:57.3. Late For Coffee (James McNeight Jr.) closed for third. Sharky Bear ($2.90) was owned by Super Mile and trained by Angelo Nappo. The seven-year-old Hes Watching-J High gelding is now 25-for-172 lifetime.
J B Gram and Sharky Bear were two of four wins for driver Kevin Cummings, who finished the 11-race program with a grand slam that included a natural hat trick in races nine through 11. Cummings also won with Cash Back (1:55.2, $6.10) in the Octoberfest series and Greystone Treasure (1:58.4, $6.06).
The other Octoberfest division winners were Fox Valley Cayman (1:56.4, $10.08), Skyline Blue Chip (1:56.4, $8.86), Lighten Up Francis (1:57, $20.34) and Chiefs Beach (1:55.4, $3.08).
Nine horses changed hands in week one for $10,714 each, and during week two, five more found new homes at the escalated price of $12,143. The last leg will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 21 and carry a claiming tag of $10,000 USD, before the top eight point-earners go postward in the $22,500 USD final on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The $3,000 guaranteed pool and carryover for the Pick Five wager in the first race produced a handsome payout. The combination of 3/5/5/5/2 returned $2,578.60 for the 50-cent wager.
The Jackpot Super High Five pentafecta in the 11th race was not hit and that carryover continues to grow, now standing at $18,451. That will be available to the betting faithful in the 14th race on Saturday night. Post time will be at 5 p.m. when live racing reconvenes that night at the oldest lighted harness track in North America.
(With files from Batavia Downs; photo of J B Gram winning on Oct. 14)