A craftily rated second quarter provided success at the end of the mile for Black Is Back who went gate to wire in the $12,500 Open Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday evening.
Dave McNeight III sent Black Is Back to the point off the gate and took the six-horse field to the quarter in :28. He then grabbed leather and backed the second panel off to :29.3 and essentially won the race as a result.
Macs Jackpot (Drew Monti), who became forwardly placed third from post six at the start, pulled first-over at the half and proceeded with urgency towards the leader on the backstretch. He continued to gain ground on Black Is Back and got to within a half-length of him in the last turn. But that was as close as he would get as McNeight shook the lines and Black Is Back accelerated into the stretch and pulled away by 1-1/2 lengths at the wire in 1:53.3.
A former Saratoga regular, Black Is Back ($12.80) now feels at home in western New York after scoring his first win at Batavia and sixth win of the year for owners Curtis Edholm and Mihajlo Zdjelar Sr.. Mihajlo Zdjelar, Jr. trains the winner.
In the co-featured $11,000 Open II, Upfront Countryboy (Drew Monti) took the lead from Iammrbrightside N (Jim Morrill, Jr.) before the quarter and then hit that station in :28 flat. From there he proceeded unchallenged to the half in :57.2 and three-quarters in 1:25.1 before turning for home and pacing to the wire under minimal urging to win in by two in 1:53.3.
It was the 59th lifetime win for Upfront Countryboy ($2.40) and it pushed his career earnings over the half-million dollar mark to $505,145. William Emmons owns the esteemed 10-year-old gelded son of Dragon Again-Cambloid that is trained by Jim Clouser, Jr.
Drew Monti won a total of three races on the card to lead all drivers on Saturday. Kevin Cummings, Shawn McDonough and Jim McNeight, Jr. all had two wins apiece. Jim Clouser, Jr. also had a double to lead all trainers for the night.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Sunday with post time at 1:15 p.m., Three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings will compete for a total purse of $104,598 during the afternoon.
(Batavia Downs)