Racing brave in a first-over trip, lightly regarded Studio City ($19.80) scored his second straight top-class win, taking the $10,000 Open Trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Nov. 13).
After Curious George (Jack Flanigen) directed the field to a :28.4 quarter, Studio City (Dave McNeight III) pulled first-over at three-eighths and started his march to the front. The outer flow continued to grow as Write That Down (Shawn McDonough) joined the fray in a :59.1 half.
When the group hit three-quarters, Studio City and Curious George were neck and neck before Write That Down tipped three-deep around the last turn and Justgottogetthere (Ron Beback Jr.) found room in the passing lane. The quartet battled four-abreast all the way down the lane with Studio City getting up to photo out Justgottogetthere in 1:59.2. Write That Down finished third.
Two heads and a neck separated the top four finishers of the race.
The win was the fifth of the year for Studio City and pushed the 2015 earnings of the six-year-old Conway Hall gelding to $50,407 for owners Scott Woogen and Lisa Denison. Lisa Lederhouse trains the winner.
Sean McDonough continued to be the hottest driver on the grounds, winning four races on Friday. That moved him in to third-place among the locals for dash wins this meet. The leader in that race, Kevin Cummings, had a driving double along with Ron Beback Jr. and Dave McNeight III.
(With files from Batavia Downs)