Bankers Dream, proving last week's win in the Brian Schroeder Memorial was no fluke, came right back and scored in the $9,000 Preferred Handicap Trot, Friday night (Oct. 22) at Batavia Downs Casino
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Getting away fourth in the weekly trotting feature, reinsman Ray Fisher, Jr. pulled Bankers Dream first over at the half and the six-year-old Dream Vacation gelding responded with an impressive one length score in 1:59.3. Speedy Ryan (Ron Abbott), who led for most of the mile, held on for second over the pocket-sitting Heaven And Hall and Kevin Cummings.
The win was Bankers Dream ninth of the season and it raised his 2010 earnings to more than $60,000 for owner Melinda Kash of Medina, Ohio and trainer Dennis Millner.
The $8,000 Open II Trot went to 1-5 favourite Zoom A Rail for trainer-driver Jim McNeight, winning by 6-1/2 lengths in 2:00.3. Zoom A Rail, a three-year-old Donerail gelding, went gate-to-wire to win for the 10th time this season in only his 11th start. He’s now three-for-three since being transferred to the McNeight barn, after being purchased privately by owner Mike Calimeri.
Two lucky tickets got all six winners correct in Friday night’s Pick-6 wager. Each ticket was worth $2,361. Saturday night’s Pick-6 pool will be guaranteed at $1,000.
The comeback kid, Two Twentytwo, who just missed by a head in last week’s $40,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial, figures to be a prohibitive favourite in the evening's second race, the $8,800 Open Handicap Pace. First race post time at America’s oldest lighted harness track is 6:40 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)