Impressive efforts were put in by pacer Mirragon A and trotter Dougadougadew as they each captured their respective divisions of $18,056 Open Handicaps featured at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Nov. 2.
The pacers went first; Mirragon A and driver Shawn McDonough got away sixth and almost 10 lengths behind as Blazing Light (Kyle Cummings) was leading the way through early quarters of :28 and :57.3. As they moved into turn three, Soul Assassin (Drew Monti) was advancing first-over in the breeze and eventually made his way to second and they rolled past three-quarters.
The field was beginning to bunch in the final bend, but Mirragon A was still last, third-over and parked. At the top of the lane, Blazing Light found himself pacing even with Soul Assassin on his right and Virgil N (Mike Baumeister) on his left. But it was Mirragon A who was five deep in the middle of the track that came flying home to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.
It was the eighth win of the year for Mirragon A ($5.40; pictured above) who is owned by his trainer, Mike Deters, in partnership with Joel Warner and John Manning.
The trot was the following race and Dougadougadew was taken off the gate by driver Kyle Cummings to fourth as Biscoe (Jim McNeight Jr.) took the field to the quarter in :28.2 before Power And Grace (Brett MacDonald) traded her pocket trip for the lead. Power And Grace trotted to the half in :58 and three-quarters in 1:27.1 as El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) was slowly making up ground on the outside and was second alongside Power And Grace at the top of the stretch. At that same point, Cummings had slipped Dougadougadew off the pylons and into the centre of the track where he swelled up and passed the leaders while holding off an equally fast-closing Biscoe by a quarter length to win in 1:57.1, which was a new lifetime mark for the winner.
Dougadougadew ($11.60) hit double digits with the victory and has now scored 10 wins this year for owners Doug and Tyra Ackley and trainer Tammy Cummings.
The meet’s leading driver, Drew Monti, was also the top reinsman on Saturday after he scored a hat trick in the bike. Trainers Mike Deters, Aaron Hall and Darrin Monti all tied as top conditioner for the evening as they each had two wins apiece.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Nov. 6 with first post time at 6:00 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)