It's been more than a month since Vla Faire ($17.40) was last seen in a pari-mutuel race at Batavia Downs, but the layoff didn't matter as she took the $8,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace Wednesday night (Oct. 30) in 1:55 over a fast track.
Drafting behind the Artsy Princess (Kevin Cummings) for most of the mile, Vla Faire (Ron Beback Jr.) showed plenty of heart down the stretch and the caught the pacesetter in the shadow of the wire, winning by a head. Artsy Princess did the dirty work, setting the fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1:25.4, but came up a disappointing stride short to Vla Faire. Notreadytobenice (Ray Fisher Jr.) took third.
The win was the fifth in 18 starts this season for Vla Faire (Village Jove-Trade Fair). The six-year-old mare is owned by Oakhurst Farms and has earned $46,360 in 2013 and $175,586 lifetime. Richard Tomaszewski conditioned the winner.
It was bombs away in the first race as Just A Bee (Kevin Cummings) took the opener and returned $109 for the victory. Just A Bee's win was the front half of a $520 early Daily Double as Highway Cash ($5.90) took the second race.
The season continues on Friday night with a 12-race card scheduled with first post slated for 6:30 p.m. The $8,500 Open Trot will be contested in the sixth race where the mare Mystical Escapade looks for her third straight victory and will score from the eight post for driver Greg Merton.
(With files from Batavia Downs)