This was the fourth straight week that Mach This Way (Ron Beback Jr.) and Memumsnotnice (Ray Fisher Jr.) locked horns with “Mach” having a 2-1 advantage over “Mum” to date. After a hard fought battle, Mach This Way reigned victorious again in the $9,500 distaff pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Dec. 9).
Memumsnotnice left sharply and paced on the front uncontested to the half in :57.2. Mach This Way had pulled at three-eighths and drew alongside the leading mare as they hit the clubhouse turn. From that point on, it was basically a match race.
Mach This Way and Memumsnotnice paced in tandem past three-quarters in 1:25.3, around the far turn and half-way down the lane. It was then the Mach This Way got a slight advantage and pulled away to a length victory in 1:55.2. The Filly Princess (Truman Gale) closed strong to be second and Memumsnotnice faded to third, in a dead-heat with Kisses N Kicks (Dave McNeight III).
The win was the eighth of the season for Mach This Way ($4.20) and pushed her earnings to $59,880 for owner William Emmons. Batavia Downs Rising Star Award winner James Clouser Jr. trains Mach This Way.
In the $7,700 Mares Open II co-feature, Heavenly Place (Dave McNeight III) went gate-to-wire in 1:57.1 to notch her 13th win of 2015. She had won in this class two weeks ago and found herself back at home after stepping down from Open I competition last week. Heavenly Place is owned by Courtney McNeight and is trained by Dave McNeight Jr.
Horsemen scoring multiple wins included drivers Kevin Cummings with three and Shawn Mcdonough, Ron Beback Jr. and Ray Fisher Jr. each with two. Trainers James Clouser Jr. and Chris Naedele each sent two winners to post.
Only two days of live racing remain at Batavia Downs for the 2015 season and Friday (Dec. 11) is the first of the pair, with post time set at 6:15 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs)