Driver Drew Monti chalked up six winners for the second consecutive night of racing at Batavia Downs and again took the feature event, the $20,845 Fillies and Mares AA-Open Pace, on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Monti won the top pace with Arizona, who scored her second consecutive Batavia Open victory since travelling south from Woodbine Mohawk Park for trainer Mike Timpano.
Arizona left from post six and totally controlled the field once in front. With Lady Blue Jay (John Cummings Jr.) in chase from the pocket, Arizona laid down splits of :28, :57.4 and 1:26 while amassing a three-length advantage heading into the last turn. When she reached the stretch, Arizona was on cruise control and won in 1:54.4. Utopia Blue Chip (Dale Spence) surged to be second by a length with Allsmokeandmirrors (Kevin Cummings) third.
The win was the fifth of the year in 22 outings for Arizona ($8.58), who is owned by Wendy Timpano of Campbellville, Ont. and Herman Bardoel of Ingersoll, Ont. The seven-year-old daughter of Up The Credit-Jo And Maria is now 45-for-127 lifetime.
Monti was also aboard recently landed Australian import The Bride A, who announced her arrival by producing the fastest mile of any pacing mare at Batavia this season in the $14,648 Fillies and Mares Class A-B Handicap Pace.
The Bride A and was on top after two pylons and crossed over in the first turn, then led by 1-3/4 lengths at the :28 quarter as Windsun Charlotte (Dave McNeight III) tried to track from the pocket. The Bride A went :55.1 to the half on top by three lengths and 1:23 to three-quarters, where she stretched out to a 5-1/2-length lead. The Bride A rounded the last bend all by herself and rolled to the line to win by 7-1/2 lengths under wraps in 1:52.1. Windsun Charlotte was best of the rest, followed by Woodmere Harriet (James McNeight Jr.).
The victory came in the first North American start for The Bride A ($3.80), who is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags LLC, Adelphi Ventures LLC, her trainer Maria Rice and Monti. The five-year-old daughter of Poster Boy-Belliciouslips is now one-for-seven this year and eight-for-23 lifetime.
Missys Magic Man (2:00.1, $2.40), Silverhill Blaze (1:55.2, $4.96), Luckystair (1:54.4, $9.64) and Rattling Pine (1:59.1, $2.48) completed Monti’s half dozen victories. Monti also had a second and two thirds from his 10 starts on Wednesday, giving him a stout .722 UDR for the evening.
Trainer Taylor Fritz sent out a trio of winners on the 13-race program. She reached victory lane with Missys Magic Man, Alexas Sunshine (1:57.3, $79.58) and Mister Marvelous (1:57.3, $4.74). The conditioner solidified her third-place position in the Batavia standings and is now 60-for-268 overall in her best season to date.
In addition to Fritz's Alexas Sunshine, there were two other big win mutuels on Wednesday. Franks Watching (1:58.3, Ray Fisher Jr.) paid $70.90 and Dear Abbey (1:56.3, Chase Russo) paid $36.14.
After no one hit the Pick Five at Batavia on Wednesday, there is a $654 carryover pool for that wager in the first race on Thursday. Track management has announced that the pool will be guaranteed at $2,500 through the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. As part of that program, TrackMaster will provide free full past performance program pages that can be downloaded (when they become available) at handicapping.ustrotting.com. The Pick Five is a 50-cent minimum wager that starts in the first race.
There is also another large pool at The Downs on Thursday with a carryover of $33,412 in the Jackpot Super High Five pentafecta in the 11th race. That bet has a 20-cent minimum wager.
Post time for the first race on Thursday is 5 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs)