Just to prove last week’s 5-3/4 length win was no fluke, Lady London moved up to the top class and wired the field again in the $12,500 Open I Handicap Pace for fillies and mares at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Nov. 20).
Driver Ray Fisher Jr. was decisive in strategy and repeated last week's script; he left strongly with Lady London and called out every quarter. They went to the quarter in :28 and the half in :57.1 with the field in single file, and then rolled to the three-quarters in 1:25.4 with Squeeze This (Billy Davis Jr.) following closely in the pocket and the favoured HP Sissy (Drew Monti) winging it first-over on the rim.
Coming off the final bend, HP Sissy stalled and Squeeze This popped the deuce coming for home. In full flight, Squeeze This made up ground all the way down the lane, but despite her valiant attempt to close the gap, fell a nose short to Lady London, who stayed tough and won in 1:56.
It was the eighth win of the year for Lady London ($7.50), who has now earned $70,873 for owner VHF Racing. Sabrina Shaw is the trainer.
In the $9,000 under-feature, Little Joke (Billy Davis Jr.) dropped from Open II company and looked impressive as the heavy favourite with a wire-to-wire, 1-1/4 length victory in 1:57.1. The eighth win of the year for Little Joke ($2.40) pushed her earnings to $74,428 for owners Vogel and Wags Nags Stable and Jack Rice. Maria Rice trains the winner.
Ray Fisher Jr. and Denny Bucceri led all drivers on Wednesday with three wins each.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Nov. 22) with post time at 6 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)