After lurking mid-pack for most of the mile, Allsmokeandmirrors made a decisive late move and paced clear to victory in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Class A-AA Pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Oct. 7, heading a training triple for Shawn McDonough.
Allsmokeandmirrors (Kevin Cummings) got away fourth as Tres Chic Bluechip (Gareth Dowse) put up panels of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:27.1. Allsmokeandmirrors was out and rolling at the third station and making up ground quickly on the leader. She pulled alongside Tres Chic Bluechip on the turn, and when they straightened for home, Allsmokeandmirrors incrementally pulled away to a 1-3/4-length win in 1:55.3. Machs Legacy A (Drew Monti) finished third.
Allsmokeandmirrors ($6.80) took her third straight win at Batavia after recently moving to the track for owner Dr. Joshua Tanis. The five-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar-Duchess Dolly is 21-for-121 lifetime.
The Octoberfest Claiming Series also kicked off on Wednesday night with eight $10,714 claiming events, each going for $14,286 in purse money. McDonough's other two winners came in the series as he won with Mingo Joel ($13.76, 1:57.1) and J B Gram ($5.88, 1:55.2). McDonough is second in the Batavia standings this season with 26 wins.
The fastest division of the night was won by Twist Knot (Joe Chindano Jr.), who went gate to wire in 1:54.2 to score his eighth win of the year in 28 starts. Twist Knot ($3.80) is owned by Chelsea Prescott and trained by Luis Porfilio.
The biggest payoff came from Just Zip It (Brady Galliers), who turned a three-wide move into a 1:56.3 victory. Just Zip It, who is owned and trained by David Weston, returned $63.42 for a $2 wager. She is now five-for-31 this season.
Nine horses were claimed from the 57 that were entered in this first leg. The series will continue next week.
Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Thursday at 5 p.m. There will be a $13,800 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the 11th race and a $798 carryover in the Pick-5 wager in the first race.
(With files from Batavia Downs)