Two top-class events were featured at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Nov. 15, and despite the inclement weather conditions that caused a lengthy delay, both winners turned in impressive performances.
The $17,606 Open Handicap Trot went first, and El Toro Loco scored his 10th win of the year in 31 starts. Kevin Cummings sent the gelding right to the front and pushed him hard to the quarter in :27.4. With Crazy Ritz (Jim McNeight Jr.) sitting in the pocket, El Toro Loco surfed to the half in :59 and three-quarters in 1:28.1 without any pushback from the rear. The trotters rounded the last bend and entered the stretch, where Crazy Ritz tried to catch the leader after a perfect trip. But El Toro Loco would not be beaten and crossed the line clear by three-quarters of a length in 1:58. Dougadougadew (Kyle Cummings) was third.
El Toro Loco ($5.92) is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith. The six-year-old son of Walner-Southwind Cabaret is 24-for-107 lifetime with earnings of $364,557.
Next up was the $17,606 Open Handicap Pace, in which Stranger Things found room late and scored big at 9-1. Stranger Things (Shawn McDonough) got away fourth and stayed in that position for over seven eighths of the mile as I Aint No Mack (Kevin Cummings) cut the splits of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:25.1 with Davey Day Trader (Dave McNeight III) following a loose second. With the top four horses in a bunch, Cummings was chasing I Aint No Mack vehemently through the last turn and into the stretch. But when they straightened for home, Davey Day Trader drifted out enough for Stranger Things to enter the passing lane, and Stranger Things bolted to the line and beat them both in 1:54.2. I Aint No Mack was a game second by a neck, with Davey Day Trader third.
Stranger Things ($20.94) upped his seasonal record to 11-for-39 for trainer Angelo Nappo and owners Kathy Schoeffel and James Reuther. The nine-year-old Western Terror-Southwind Prairie gelding now has 51 wins and $529,772 in career earnings through 244 starts.
Joe Chindano Jr. had three driving wins on the 12-race program, two from his own shedrow.
There was no winner in the Pick-5 wager starting in the day’s first race, and that left a $1,900 carryover for that same bet on the next card. As a result, the management of Batavia Downs has announced there will be a $7,500 guaranteed pool for the Pick-5 wager when live racing resumes at The Downs on Wednesday, in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. That also means that free full past performance programs for those five races can be downloaded for free (once available) on the USTA website (ustrotting.com) under the Handicapping tab.
Post time for Wednesday's card is 6 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)