On a night racing fans said goodbye to a very popular racehorse it was the Windsor invader Shoe In who did his best Jack Sparrow impression when he went on to victory in the $9,000 Jack Sparrow Open Trot, Friday night (Nov. 19) at Batavia Downs Casino
.
Going out first time for trainer Sherri Holliday, Shoe In, with Ken Holliday in the sulky, closed from far back to win the weekly trotting feature in 2:00.1 over Meadows invader Rio Sweet (Ron Beback, Jr.) by 2-1/4 lengths. Bankers Dream (Ray Fisher, Jr.) wound up third.
Shoe In, an eight-year-old Keystone Nordic gelding notched his third win of the season and raised his lifetime earnings to more than $395,000. He is now leased by Betty Tauber.
A very feisty Jack Sparrow was officially retired with a special winner's circle ceremony. The seven-year-old altered son of Humorous Harry won 49 times in 159 lifetime starts including 11 Batavia wins. He set his lifetime mark of 1:58.1 at the Downs on August 22, 2008 for trainer-driver Jim McNeight and owner Mike Calimeri.
Camphor Hanover, the second longest price on the board went from last to first to pull the upset in the co-featured $9,000 Mares Open pace.
Under some perfect Jimmy Whisman piloting, Camphor Hanover ($28.00) took advantage of some sizzling early fractions. He moved into contention at the top of the stretch, angled to the passing lane and drew clear to win by a length and three-quarters in 1:56 on a chilly 42 degree night.
The front running Artistry In Rhythm (Ken Holliday) got down to the half in :56 after being used hard early and dug in holding second over favoured Silveresque (Jack Flanigen).
The improving Camphor Hanover, a seven-year-old Island Fantasy mare is trained by Calvin Hollar for owner Jerone Waddell. This was her sixth win of the season and she’s now over $221,000 in lifetime earnings.
With only six more night left in the 2010 racing season the battle for
dash-leading driver honours couldn’t be any closer. Defending champion Kevin Cummings and Jack Flanigen started the evening with 93 wins each. Cummings scored a hat trick on the Friday program, while Flanigen had a driving double. John Cummings, Jr. also won twice.
(Batavia Downs)