Fresh from a six-week respite, Stratosphere made his return felt intermediately after looping the field to win by open lengths at 21-1 in the $12,300 Open I Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 9).
This race was an example of what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. Foo Fighter N left and took the lead at the pylons while Surfer Beach was parked out next to him and Matticulous GB was also parked three-deep in line. At this point Stratosphere was seated fifth, watching the action. From that point, Foo Fighter N, Surfer Beach and Matticulous GB raced side-by-side — three-deep — to the quarter in :27.2, the half in :54.3 and three-quarters in 1:23.4 and neither of them would relent. At that third station, driver Drew Monti had Stratosphere out and rolling and tipped four-deep into the last turn, circled the group and then kicked away with the race. Stratosphere opened four lengths at the top of the stretch and extended that to eight lengths at the wire, where he was a wrapped-up winner in 1:53.
It was the third win in the last four starts and sixth win overall for Stratosphere who is owned by his driver and trained by Darrin Monti. He paid $44 to win.
Drew Monti added two more wins on Saturday to end the night with three.
In the $11,000 Open II Handicap, Endeavors Pride took full advantage of pylon position and led at every station before turning for home with a brisk :28.4 clocking to hold of late challenges from Sunfirewindrain and Toot Toot N to win by a length in 1:54.4.
A horse that had no wins and a mere $4,047 in earnings last year, Endeavors Pride now has six wins and $49,008 in 2021 for owner Mike Torcello. Gerry Sarama trains the winner. Kevin Cummings piloted the $4 winner.
Jim Morrill Jr. followed his seven-win effort on Friday (Oct. 8) at Batavia with three more wins on Saturday.
When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 13), there will once again be two healthy carryovers available.
With no single unique winning ticket purchased in the Pick 5 on Saturday night, there is a carryover of $7,668 for that bet into Race 9. And with the same situation occurring in the Jackpot Pick 6, another carryover of $1,675 will be in place for that wager in Race 4.
Free full past performance programs for the entire card — that includes these races — can also be downloaded at bataviadownsgaming.com under the live racing tab, where they can be found for every live night of racing at Batavia Downs.
Post time for the first race Wednesday is 5 p.m. (EDT).
(Batavia Downs)