Jim Morrill Jr. had a huge night in the bike at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Nov. 4) as he won five races that included both features and a natural hat trick in races nine, 10 and 11.
First in the $15,000 Open I Handicap trot, Morrill sat the pocket with E Street following Ricky B Sharp (Mike Baumeister) who was being hounded by a parked Makadushin N Cheez (Kevin Cummings) for three-quarters of the mile. That bid by Makadushin N Cheez fell by the wayside before the last turn leaving Ricky B Sharp and E Street to battle it out. When the race entered the homestretch, Morrill tipped E Street into the passing lane and trotted right on by the leader to win by a length in 1:56.4.
Owned and trained by Rachelle Mungillo, it was the third straight win for E Street ($13.80).
Then in the $15,000 Open I Handicap pace, Morrill put Pocono Downs invader Venier Hanover on the point off the gate and never looked back. After setting fractions of :28, :57 and 1:25.1, Venier Hanover took a two length lead into the lane and never allowed El Jacko (Kyle Swift), who followed him the entire mile, to catch him en route to a 1-3/4 length 1:53.2 win.
Owned by owner Monique Cohen, it was the 51st lifetime win for Venier Hanover ($2.20). Shawn McDonough was the winning trainer.
Morrill also won with V J Ranger (1:57.3, $5.30), Vulcan Star N (1:53.3, $4.40) and Just A Wrangler (1:53.1, $2.70) to complete his quintuplet. Morrill also had two seconds and two thirds from his 10 starts giving him a lofty UDR of .678 for the night. Those wins also increased Morrill's win total for the meet to 138 and catapulted him into a first place tie for dash driving honors with Kevin Cummings.
Morrill also sits second for UDR among all drivers in North America with 500 or more starts with a .427 overall for the year.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 8) at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a $432 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race 13.
(With files from Batavia Downs)