Ontario trainer and driver Doug Bowins is finding the Open racing at Batavia Downs to his liking.
For the second consecutive racing night, Bowins has trained and driven the winner home to victory in the feature race of the night.
Friday night, Bowins found the winner's circle again, taking the $9,000 Open Trot with Ontario-sired Chinnys Wings ($10.60) in 1:57.2. On Wednesday night, Pathtodover took the $9,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace for Bowins.
Chinnys Wings, a seven-year-old Armbro Ricochet gelding, was first over past the half as Big Baller set the pace with a :58-second half. At the three-quarters pole, Chinnys Wings finally took the lead, but the remainder of the field was double-decked with all having a chance.
But the charge down the stretch belonged to Chinnys Wings. Owned by Bowins of Dundas, Ontario and Donald Brinkman of East Coulee, Alberta, Chinnys Wings stretched out his lead and managed to hold off the challenges of Under The Stars (Jim McNeight Jr.) and Typical Newyorker (Ray Fisher Jr.), who finished second and third respectively.
The win was the sixth of the season for Chinnys Wings and pushed his seasonal earnings to $55,889. It was also his first in two starts south of the border.
Reinman Dan Noble, currently second in the driving standings during the summer-fall meet, had a driving five-bagger on the Friday card and is now 16 wins behind leading driver Shawn Gray with 17 racing programs remaining in the 2012 season.
The Pick-6 continues to grow, the carryover pool going into Saturdays 12-card program is $3,117.
Live racing resumes Saturday night with post time scheduled for 6:25 p.m. The feature will be the eighth race with the $9,000 Open Pace. What The Sheik is tapped the morning line favourite at 5-2 with Anthony Morgan set for the drive, scoring from the seven-hole. What The Sheik has won his last two appearances in the Open Pace.
(With files from Batavia Downs)