Detailer and driver David McNeight III beat Lutetium at his own game on a frigid Friday night (Nov. 29) and took the $8,500 Open Trot at Batavia Downs.
Lutetium had won the previous two weeks with wire-to-wire victories in the Open Trot. It was a different story this week. Lutetium was assigned the eight post and couldn't beat the six-year-old Detailer, who drew the four post, to the lead.
Detailer ($6.70) posted fractions of :28.4, 1:00, 1:30 and used a :28.4 final quarter to hold off the pocket-sitting Lutetium (Kevin Cummings) by a length in 1:58.4 over the fast track. Haste (Jim McNeight) got up for the show spot.
Owned and trained by David McNeight Jr., Detailer (Armbro Tropicana-Just Having Fun) has now won five times this season and has earned $53,850 and $164,316 lifetime.
McNeight III, Jack Flanigen and Ray Fisher Jr. each had driving triples on the evening.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs with a 13-race card on Saturday night starting at 6:30 p.m. The feature is the $8,500 Open Pace and it will go off in the sixth race on the program. It has attracted a field of seven with Unicorn Hanover the 5-2 morning line favourite with Ron Beback Jr. in the bike.
(Batavia Downs)