Cold, wind and rain set the stage for a sloppy night of racing at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 8) but there was nothing messy about the performance put in by Rightfully Mine, who splashed her way to victory in the $15,000 Open I Distaff Handicap feature.
Rightfully Mine (Jim Morrill Jr.) took the lead from So Amazing (John Cummings Jr.) heading to the quarter, but soon found herself second as So Amazing retook the front past that station. As the race moved to the half, Compassrose De Vie (Todd Ratchford) motored up the outside and joined the fray for the second circuit. Compassrose De Vie and So Amazing raced alongside each other to three-quarters while Rightfully Mine sat the pocket. These three then broke away from the field in the last turn and set the stage for the final eighth. Compassrose De Vie slightly faded at the head of the stretch whilet Rightfully Mine slipped into the passing lane and caught the game So amazing just before the wire to win by a length in 1:57.
It was the third straight win for Rightfully Mine ($3), who is owned by Monique Cohen and Anthony Scussel, and trained by Shawn McDonough.
Morrill won a total of four races during the card while McDonough had four training wins, two of which he drove, giving him a total of six winners across two categories.
Later in the $11,500 upper-level condition pace for mares, A Black Diamond (Dave McNeight III) got away third in chase of Louie The Lilac (Kevin Cummings), who found favour on the front. McNeight pulled A Black Diamond first-over at the five-eighths, drew even with Louie The Lilac in the last turn and then bolted home to a 1-3/4-length victory in 1:57.3.
Russell Bratt trains A Black Diamond ($3.90), who earned her fourth straigth win, for owner Lav Racing.
Driver Kyle Cummings also had a grand slam on Wednesday that included a lead-off natural hat trick in races one, two and three.
Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. and there will be a $861 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race 13.
(With files from Batavia Downs)