Drew Monti was on top of his game Saturday night at Batavia Downs, winning five races on the card including the weekly pacing feature with Down On My Luck who moved up to the top class $12,500 Open I Handicap after taming the Open II pacers in handy fashion last week.
Down On My Luck took back to fifth while Tullow N (John Cummings, Jr.) and Mr Euroman (Billy Davis, Jr.) fought hard for the lead, parked two-wide to the quarter in :27.2 and the half in :56.1. Monti pulled there and Down On My Luck was now second-over in the breeze following Mr Euroman, who had been out the entire mile.
Tullow N was still rolling on the point and hit three-quarters in 1:24.3 and it was there Down On My Luck tipped three-wide around the tiring Mr Euroman. Black Is Back (Dave McNeight III) was also three-deep in the flow and was now in play for the stretch run. When the race came off the turn, Down On My Luck took the lead by a length but Black Is Back was closing fast behind him. Positions remained unchanged to the wire and Down On My Luck won by a quarter-length in 1:53.4.
It was the fifth win in six Batavia Downs starts this meet for Down On My Luck ($5.50) who is owned by Robert Woodburn and is trained by Patrick Shepherd.
Monti completed his five win night with Cultural Paradise (1:54.4, $11.00), Howmac Dancer (1:55.1, $4.20), Brunello N (1:55, $7.30) and Cheyenne Louie (1:57.2, $5.30).
Fool Me Once (Renaldo Morales III) won the $11,000 Open II pace after leaving from post eight to lead at every station en route to a 1:55.2 victory. It was the fifth win of the year for the overlooked Fool Me Once ($26.80) who is owned by Triple S Equine and trained by Patrick Shepherd.
Billy Davis, Jr. and Renaldo Morales III each had driving triples on Saturday while trainers Patrick Shepherd, JD Perrin and Maria Rice all had two victories each.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)