Wanna Rock N Roll continued her late season dominance of the best local mares as she fended off challenges the entire race to take the $9,000 Mares Open pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Friday night (December 16).
Wanna Rock N Roll (Drew Monti) left like a freight train and took a lead she would never relinquish. But her journey was not without pressure. Scarlet N Silk (Ray Fisher Jr.) also left from post eight and acted like a prompter in a time trial for three-quarters of a mile.
After recording stiff fractions of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:27.1 on a frigid night, Wanna Rock N Roll put away Scarlet N Silk, but then face an onslaught of horses swinging four-wide around the parking ticket recipient.
The Filly Princess (Kevin Cummings), Aritiza Hanover (Ben McNeil) and Tymal Luckynpink (Shawn Gray) were bearing down on the leader around the last turn and inching closer with every stride. But Monti started urging his mare, who responded in kind, and Wanna Rock N Roll paced away to a length victory in 1:56.3.
The win was the third straight in the top distaff class at Batavia Downs for Wanna Rock N Roll ($2.70) and 10th overall for the year. She has now earned $71,220 in 2016 for owner Rose Campbell. The five-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover is trained by Steve Kiblen.
Shawn Gray registered a driving triple on Friday while Drew Monti, Shawn McDonough and Ray Fisher Jr. each had a double.
The final card of racing for the 2016 season is Saturday (December 17) at a special post time of 5 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs)