Top New York-bred pacers and trotters were on display as Batavia Downs' 65th season of live harness racing got underway in front of a large crowd on Monday
, July 25.
New York Sire Stakes races dominated the 12-race program, with five divisions carded for the three-year-old trotting fillies and four divisions of three-year-old pacing colts and geldings pacers. On hand in the winner's circle making special blanket presentations were Tim Gordon, executive director of the NYSS, along with Betty Holt from the New York Harness Horse Breeders.
On the trotting side, the fabulous filly Jezzy raised her record to a perfect eight-for-eight this season and 18 for 19 lifetime when she cruised to victory in the sixth race of the evening for trainer-driver Ray Schnittker. Having left from Post 7, Jezzy put up all the numbers en-route to a five and a half-length score in 1:59.3.
The Credit Winner--Ladylind sophomore has earned $613,530 lifetime for the ownership group of Schnittker, Jerry Silva, Jeff Gural and Ted Gewertz. She returned $2.50 to win her $27,390 division.
“It was an easy mile for her,” Schnittker said. “We have the Hambletonian Oaks eliminations next week and we didn’t want to take too much out of her. She’s the second best horse I’ve ever had.”
Other NYSS three-year-old trotting filly victors were: Miss Sue V (Credit Winner--Sunday Yankee), driver Brian Mattison, trainer Paul Kelley, 1:59.2; Conwayslassie (Conway Hall--Yankee Starling), Jim Morrill, Jr., Richard Johnson, 2:00.2; Some Girls (Conway Hall--Emotional Rescue), Stephane Bouchard, Gates Brunet, 1:58.4; and Go Go Dancer (Credit Winner--Princess Gladiator), Brian Mattison, Paul Kelley, 2:00.3.
By far the most impressive winner of the $35,633 divisions of three-year-old pacing colts was the Artiscape--Celebrity Ball gelding Art Z.
Art Z, scoring from the rail, got away in the pocket behind two-year-old Batavia track record holder Flipper Z. Heading to three-quarters, driver Brett Miller pulled the Jordon Rubin trainee and they quickly made the top as the field of seven headed for home. Down the lane under Miller's urging, Art Z drew off to win by eight and a quarter lengths. She nailed the wire in 1:52.3, just two-fifths of a second off the three-year-old Batavia record and a full second faster then the other three divisions.
Unraced at two, Art Z ($3.50) notched the sixth win of his career for owner Richard Lombardo. His seasonal earnings are at $71,241.
Reinsman Brett Miller, who was making his first ever Batavia start, said, “Jordon has done a great job with him, when I asked him he exploded out of the hole and I just drove him out to the wire.”
Other NYSS 3-year-old colt pacing winners were: Major Way (Art Major--Feminine Ways), Brandon Simpson, Linda Toscano, 1:57.1; JK Camelot (Art Major--Blue Ocean), Jim Morrill, Jr., Linda Toscano, 1:55.3; and Mojo Terror (Western Terror--Winning Mojo), Jim Morrill, Jr., Chris Oakes, 1:54.1.
Night Two of the summer meet will take place on Wednesday, July 27. First-race post time is 6:40 p.m. America’s oldest lighted harness track is currently racing every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. The first matinee of the season will take place on August 28.
(Batavia Downs)