After fading last week from an outside post and a three-deep rimming to the quarter, Lutetium rebounded from post four with a much easier trip to take the $9,500 Open Trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Nov. 7).
Over an off track on a chilly night, Downs leading driver Kevin Cummings rushed Lutetium off the gate to take their familiar front end posture before the field rounded the first turn. After tripping the first split in :28.3, the pair leveled the pace the rest of the way and effectively put the competition to sleep. They hit the half in :58.3 and the three-quarters in 1:28 flat before turning back any late challenges and closing out the race in 1:58.3. Absolutely Certain (Ron Beback Jr.) rushed up to be second while Justgottogetthere (Jim McNeight) hung on for third after a pocket trip.
The win was Lutetium's ($5.60) 15th of the year and the effort fattened his 2014 wallet to $84,690 for owner Colleen Girdlestone. The seven-year-old Credit Winner gelding is trained by Mike Laidlaw.
Lutetium was only one of four wins on the night for Cummings, who scored another grand slam Friday. Not to be outdone, Jim Morrill Jr. also notched a four-bagger and Drew Monti registered a double.
(Batavia Downs)