A substantial class hike made punters overlook Whos Got The Move's convincing 4-1/2-length victory from just last week and their wagering discard provided big dividends for those who came back for more as Whos Got The Move repeated and won the $9,500 co-featured pace at Batavia Downs on Thursday afternoon at 39-1.
Whos Got The Move (Dave McNeight III) got away a gapped fourth as Late Night Date A (Ray Fisher Jr.) scooted along to fast early fractions of :28.3 and :57.4. As the single-file field rounded into turn three, McNeight tipped Whos Got The Move first-over and drew even with Late Night Date A by three-quarters. After matching strides around the last bend, Whos Got The Move took the lead at the top of the stretch and then held off a late closing Tobins Diva (Keith Kash Jr.) to win by one-half length in 1:56.3.
After going winless in 2022, Whos Got The Move ($80.50) now has two tallies this year for owners Richard and Lynn Fisher --
The other $9,500 pace was won by Brave World (Kevin Cummings), who didn't surprise anyone after winning at prohibitive odds.
Cummings took no prisoners and grabbed a lead he would never relinquish. After going :29.1, :58.1 and 1:26.3, Brave World turned for home on top by 1-3/4 lengths and held on by a mere head over Long Legged John (Keith Kash), who made a valiant stretch run before coming up just short.
It was also the second win in a row -- and third in his last four -- for Brave World ($3.90) and owner Mike Torcello. Sammy Smith trained the winner.
Cummings ended the day with four winners overall.
The finals of the Western New York Pop-Up Series will be held when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb. 20). The four finals will offer purses ranging from $12,000 to $18,000 while the four consolation races will go for between $7,000 and $10,000 each. Spots in both were secured by the top money-earners in each Trackmaster category.
Also on Monday, there will be a $2,285 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 Pentafecta, which will be available in race 11.
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