El Toro Loco rampaged down the lane to win the $19,014 Open Handicap Trot, featuring in a trio of winners for trainer Alex Giuliani on the 14-race Saturday, Oct. 17 card at Batavia Downs.
Shine All The Way (Dave McNeight III) led the field to the quarter in :29.1 as El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) sat a close second. As they rolled into turn two, Double Class (John Cummings Jr.) came flying up the outside and trotted alongside Shine All The Way to the half in :58.3, around the clubhouse turn and to three-quarters in 1:28.2. Crazy Ritz (Jim McNeight Jr.) had pulled from sixth and moved three-wide to become dead even with Shine All The Way and Double Class heading into the last turn. At the same time, El Toro Loco was locked-in tight on the pylons from fifth. Crazy Ritz struck the front at the top of the lane, but El Toro Loco also found racing room in the passing lane and flew home first by three-quarters of a length in 1:59. My One Percent (Kyle Cummings) finished third.
The win was the seventh of the year in 26 outings for El Toro Loco ($7.70). The seven-year-old gelded son of Walner-Southwind Cabaret, now 31-for-136 lifetime, is owned by Mike Torcello.
Giuliani took his other training wins with Skyway Ballistic (1:57, $3.22) and One Corona To Go (1:55.4, $20.28). The conditioner is nine-for-32 on the season.
In the $19,014 Open Handicap Pace, Lip Reader A went gate to wire to score his 52nd career win in his 197th start.
Lip Reader A (Drew Monti) had things go his way, and he led with a cushion through splits of :29, :58.4 and 1:26.3 with Toreador Gb (Gareth Dowse) trying to stay close in the pocket and Captain Paradise (Kevin Cummings) making an outside bid heading to three-quarters. But the :27.4 third panel Lip Reader A posted stung the competition, and he opened up two going through the last bend then cruised to the line a 1-1/2-length winner in 1:55.1. Toreador Gb finished second but was placed back to third; Ontop Rainman was elevated to place.
Lip Reader A ($3.26) is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags LLC and Team Rice Racing. Maria Rice trains the 12-year-old Sportswriter-Strike Line gelding, who is now eight-for-27 this season.
The Sulky Queens Lady Driving Series made a stop at Batavia on Saturday as a highlight of the “Night at the Races” breast cancer fundraiser to benefit the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. Two races were held, and the action produced some great finishes.
The first was won by Lauren Harmon and Skyway Ballistic, who sat second until seven-eighths, when the pair tipped and pulled away to a two-length win. Skyway Ballistic is owned by El Dorado Stables and Torcello.
The second was won by Nicky Ratledge and Mason Street (1:57.2, $14.12), who led every step of the way and held off the fast-closing 98-1 shot Stabler and Marianna Monaco to win by a half-length. Mason Street is owned and trained by Cassandra Johnson.
The American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) was also on hand for two events on Saturday and featured some of the best amateur drivers in North America.
The first was won by Robert Ciavardini and Woodmere Rollnpop (1:59, $3.20), who took the lead past the half, opened up 4-1/2 lengths at three-quarters and cruised home unchallenged. Woodmere Rollnpop is owned by Dave McNeight III and trained by Cassandra Johnson.
The second went to Joe Lee and Checkonwilliam Gb (2:01.2, $2.80), who was locked in fourth to three-quarters but shook loose in deep stretch to win a four-horse photo by a nose. Checkonwilliam Gb is owned by Lav Racing Stable Inc. and trained by Chris Petrelli.
All the participants of the Sulky Queens and the AHDC races made donations to support the fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester.
Driver Kevin Cummings won three races on the card.
Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Wednesday at 5 p.m. There will be a $20,595 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the 13th race.
(With files from Batavia Downs)