Handsoffmytitos was sent off at 35-1 but raced like an odds-on favourite as he muscled to the lead and bottomed out the field to take the $11,429 conditioned feature finale at Batavia Downs on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Handsoffmytitos (Wade Tomaszewski) remained on the rim to the quarter but gained the lead at that station in :27.4. Once on the point, Handsoffmytitos was on a mission as he held an open-length advantage while pacing unchallenged to the half in :56.3 and three-quarters in 1:24.3. At that point, he had a 4-1/2-length lead, and no one from behind had any answers. The gap began to narrow at the top of the lane, and a host of horses closed quickly in deep stretch, but Handsoffmytitos had enough left to close it out and won in 1:54.3, which was a new seasonal mark. Stonecold Cruiser (Drew Monti) was second, followed by Twist Knot (Ray Fisher Jr.).
The win was the 22nd lifetime in 149 starts for Handsoffmytitos. The seven-year-old American Ideal-Sage N gelding is owned by Sierra Smith and Jagged Brook Farms and is trained by Sam Smith. His $73.20 win mutuel prompted a $657.80 exactor and $4,849 trifecta, each for a $2 wager.
The longshot payout in the last race also led to no winning tickets in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta. That caused an $11,581 carryover to be available for that same bet in the 12th race at Batavia on Saturday night.
Drivers John Cummings Jr. and Kevin Cummings both had two wins on the 11-race card, as did trainers Megan Wilson and Sam Smith.
Live racing will resume at Batavia on Saturday at 5 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs)