Center Attraction has raced 11 times at Batavia Downs coming into her start on Wednesday (Oct. 25) and has not cut a mile since her first outing back on July 26 when she won by 2-3/4 lengths. Ten starts later, Center Attraction was back on the point and simply mauled her competition in the $15,000 Open I Handicap Pace for fillies and mares.
Jim McNeight Jr. flew from post five with Center Attraction and opened up a quick three lengths at the :27.4 quarter. With the rest of the field trying to stay close, Center Attraction kept on rolling and extended her lead to four lengths at three-quarters after a stiff :28 third panel. McNeight rounded the last turn and headed for home without any opposition and Center Attraction stretched out by 5-1/4 lengths at the light where she won in 1:53.4 and took a new lifetime mark.
The win was the seventh win of the year from 20 starts for Center Attraction ($2.90), who has now earned $66,814 this year for trainer Robert Anderson and co-owner Pamela Schieber.
One race later in the $11,500 mid-level condition for distaff side-wheelers, A Black Diamond (Kevin Cummings) left from post six and ducked in second where she sat a cozy pocket trip behind Its Mesmerise A (Kyle Swift) through quarters of :26.4, :56 and 1:25.1 before she continued to trip-out around the last turn to the top of the stretch. There, Cummings dipped into the passing lane with A Black Diamond and blew right by Its Mesmerise A by 2-1/4 lengths to win in 1:55.1.
The win was the 10th of the year from 35 starts for A Black Diamond ($10.60), who is owned by Lav Racing Stable and trained by Russell Bratt.
Wednesday’s driving leader was Jim Morrill Jr., who had a grand slam, while Shawn McDonough topped the trainers with a hat trick of his own.
Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. and there will be a $656 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race 13.
(With files from Batavia Downs)