An abbreviated field of five turned into a two-horse race in Batavia Downs' $11,000 Open Trot on Friday night (Nov. 28), and for the fifth time of the meet, Lutetium prevailed.
Driver Kevin Cummings utilized a very unconventional strategy with the front-running Lutetium, letting Second Hand News (Shawn McDonough) cut the mile and then taking a two-hole trip. Second Hand News proceeded to dictate the pace with fractions of :28.2, 1:00 and 1:29.4 through the cold night air while Lutetium followed snug in second and the rest of the field watched from behind. At the top of the stretch, Cummings pulled the pocket and Lutetium brought game while methodically running down the race-long leader to the wire, eventually winning by a head in 1:59. Second Hand News was second and Absolutely Certain (Ron Beback Jr.) finished third.
The victory was number 16 overall for the year for Lutetium ($5.30) and pushed his earnings to $90,190 for owner Colleen Girdlestone. The seven-year-old Credit Winner gelding is trained by Mark Laidlaw.
Drivers Kevin Cummings and Dave McNeight III had outstanding nights in the bike as they both won four races on the card. Ron Beback Jr. also registered a driving double.
Lofty superfecta payoffs continued in race 12 at Batavia as the 4-5-6-7 combination returned $7,647.
Live racing resumes on Saturday (Nov. 29) at Batavia Downs with the first of two double header cards being presented on the last two Saturdays of the meet. Post times are set for 12:15 p.m. and 6:35 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)