Batavia Downs hosted another five divisions of the Octoberfest Claiming Series on Wednesday, Oct. 21, with the $14,085 claimers competing for the same amount in each split.
Driver Drew Monti won three Octoberfest contests as part of a grand slam on the 13-race card. In that series, he won with Belmar (1:56.3, $59.58) for owner Keith Pinkowski and trainer Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr., Skyline Blue Chip (1:56, $9.74) for owners James Costa and Peter Kibler and trainer Dave McNeight Jr., and Pink Floyd Hanover (1:56.4, $7.32) for owner Melvin Fink and trainer Chris Petrelli. Monti’s fourth win came with Hurrikane Lori Ann (1:57.2, $12.40) for owner Michael Flanigen and trainer Rachelle Mungillo.
Motive Hanover (Joe Chindano Jr., $14.56) won the fastest division in 1:54.4, which was a seasonal mark. He is owned by Michael Milazzo and trained by Candace Brandstatter-Hall.
The other Octoberfest division was won by Job Hunter (Dave McNeight III), who led from gate to wire on the way to a 1:55.4 score. Job Hunter ($17.22) is trained by David Weston, who shares ownership with Henry Conradt.
There were six more claims made in the third and final leg of the series, and not one favourite won a division. The top eight point earners from the preliminary rounds will reconvene for the final that will go on Wednesday, Oct. 28 and be contested for $22,500 USD.
Dave McNeight III also had a hat trick in the bike while 13 different trainers each won one race apiece.
Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Thursday at 5 p.m. There will be a $22,318 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the 12th race. There is also a carryrover of $429 in the Pick Five wager in the first race.
(With files from Batavia Downs; photo of Pink Floyd Hanover winning on Oct. 21)