Stranger Things hit the 50-win milestone with an upset dead-heat victory in a thrilling $17,606 Open Pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Batavia Downs, one half of an Open double for driver Kevin Cummings.
Stranger Things got away sixth while Lanjo Lee (Kyle Cummings) left and tucked in second behind Lip Reader A (Drew Monti), who cut fractions of :28.1 and :58 to the half. As the field moved onto the second circuit, an outer flow formed led by Villiam (Joe Chindano Jr.), who was followed by Stranger Things to three-quarters in 1:26.
The field was still in two rows and bunched around the last turn, and when they spun for home, horses were coming from everywhere. Lip Reader A still had the lead, but Lanjo Lee moved inside of him while Stranger Things tipped three-deep. Villiam was still in play, and the group was joined by Be Dazzled Lou A (Dave McNeight III) and Lyons Surfing (Kyle Swift). The pack of six drew almost even as they paced to the wire, where the half-dozen was separated by a half-length with Stranger Things and Lanjo Lee getting there first in 1:54.1. They were ahead of show finisher Lip Reader A by a head.
Stranger Things, a nine-year-old son of Western Terror-Southwind Prairie, recorded 50 wins in 242 starts and raised his earnings to $521,058. The gelding, trained by Angelo Nappo, is 10-for-37 this year for owners Kathy Schoeffel and Jim Reuther. His win payout was $17.02.
Lanjo Lee ($43.44) took his eighth win of the season in 24 tries for owner Gordon Swift and trainer Jeff Sorenson. The six-year-old son of So Surreal-My Drag Queen is now 33-for-92 lifetime and has earned $401,028.
In the Open Handicap Trot, despite a second, first, and third in his last three starts, Double Class was sent off at 42-1 and filled the punters with regret as he got the job done. Double Class got away sixth for Kevin Cummings as Latavius (Dave McNeight III) took the lead passing the :28.1 quarter, and then strolled to the half in :59.2. Cummings tipped Double Class first-over nearing the midway point to begin the march towards the leader.
Double Class incrementally gained ground on Latavius to three-quarters in 1:28.1 and then matched strides with him around the last turn. When they entered the stretch, Double Class continued to dig and eventually moved past Latavius just before the light while holding off a fast-closing Dougadougadew (Kyle Cummings) at the line to win by a head in 1:57.2. Gone Crazee (Drew Monti) soared late for show.
The win was the seventh of the year in 32 outings for Double Class ($86.80). Ron Beback Jr. trains the gelding for James Clouser Jr. The five-year-old son of Class Included-Double Ivory has amassed 18 lifetime wins and $239,884 in earnings in 108 lifetime starts.
Besides winning both features, Kevin Cummings also won with Soul Assassin (1:54.4, $3.30) and Nautical Hanover (1:56, $2.44) to finish the night with a grand slam.
Twelve different trainers each won one race on the card.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday with post time at 6 p.m. There will be a $1,393 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the 12th race.
(With files from Batavia Downs; photo of Stranger Things winning on June 14)