A jump up in company and a tough first over trip wasn’t enough from stopping Cam Patch from winning the featured $8,100 Open Pace on Saturday night at Batavia Downs Casino
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With 20-year-old provisional driver Shawn McDonough in the sulky, Cam Patch, a six-year-old altered son of Cambest, was pulled to the outside approaching the half and moved up engage the front-running Yonkers invader, Box Car Billie (Jack Flanigen), heading into the clubhouse turn after fractions of :28.3 and :57.3.
The battle intensified heading to the three-quarters as Box Car Billie and Cam Patch were side by side and stride for stride in 1:26.3.
At the top of the stretch, Box Car Billie held a narrow lead, but a relentless Cam Patch was able to wear that rival down in mid-stretch and hold off Bettors Reward (Dave McNeight III), a victim of stalled cover, to win by three parts of a length in 1:56.
Cam Patch ($13) notched his eighth win of the year for owners David Ball and Jerry Reinhart. The Downs' leading conditioner, Alex Giuliani, is the trainer.
McDonough held the hot hand on the Saturday program making four winner’s circle visits, including one with Hitouch Emotion, one of the favourites for Pacer of the Year at the Downs. The win was Hitouch Emotion's 12th of the season.
Pick 6 players will have a nice carryover pool of $4,800 to wager into when racing resumes on Wednesday night at 6:40 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)