A pair of $14,085 Class AA optional claiming trots were featured at Batavia Downs on Friday, Nov. 21 and both races had round-trip winners.
In the first division, Brookview Darius and catch-driver Joe Chindano Jr. took no prisoners in a gate-to-wire romp. Brookview Darius cut the quarter in :28 flat before Wild Bill Kelso (Kevin Cummings) challenged first-up for the next two panels clocked in :59.1 and 1:28. As the race went into turn four, Brookview Darius put away Wild Bill Kelso and opened up two lengths at the top of the stretch then bolted home in front by four in 1:57.2. Wild Bill Kelso held on for second over Good Boy (Ray Fisher Jr.).
The win was the seventh of the year in 31 starts for Brookview Darius, who returned $4.38 to his backers as the odds-on favourite. Sheena Cohen trains the five-year-old Swan For All-Witty Winner gelding for Friendship Stables of Mountain Lakes, New Jersey.
In the second group, Itsoneofthose set fast fractions in a near career-best effort with Kevin Cummings in the driver's seat. Itsoneofthose took a quick lead from a pylon start and parked Treasured Tee (Drew Monti) to the quarter in a fast :27.2 before that rival made a break. That left Itsoneofthose all alone to the half in :57.3 and three-quarters in 1:27.1 with Latavius (Dave McNeight III) and bettors' choice My One Percent (Kyle Cummings) trying to keep up heading into the turn. When they hit the stretch, neither of those two pursuers could catch up as Itsoneofthose closed the deal decisively in 1:56.4, just one-fifth of a second off his lifetime mark. My One Percent got second over Latavius, 1-1/4 lengths behind the winner.
Itsoneofthose, winning for the sixth time in 30 seasonal starts, paid $13.18 as the 5-1 fourth choice. Trained by Chris Petrelli, the eight-year-old Chapter Seven-Amazing Grace gelding earned his first win for Lav Racing Stable of Lindenhurst, New York off the claim at Pocono Downs last week.
The feature victories were part of multiple-win performances by Kevin Cummings, who ended with four, and Chindano Jr., who had three. Petrelli ended with a training double.
Live harness racing resumes at Batavia on Saturday, Nov. 22 with post time at 6 p.m.
Starting next week, Batavia switches to a Wednesday-Saturday schedule starting on Nov. 26 and running through Dec. 20. Post time for all dates remains at 6 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs; photo of Itsoneofthose winning on Nov. 21)