A change of tactics didn't seem to bother Keep It Fair at all Wednesday night as she won the $8,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Batavia Downs in 1:54.4 over a 'fast' track.
The heavily favoured Keep It Fair ($3), who has now won three straight Opens, two in a a row at Batavia Downs, had won her two previous races in a front-running manner. But she showed her versatility this time around as it was a big brush just before three-quarter station that did in the field.
Itstimeformetofly (John McDonald) set the early fractions, going the first half in :56.2. But Keep It Fair, who sat patiently in third, was first over at the half and zoomed by the tiring pacesetter just before the three-quarter pole. Keep It Fair (Greg Merton) managed to hold off the mild late rally from second-place finisher Two Step Turn (David McNeight III), who finished a half-length back. Puff Mommy (Shawn McDonough) finished in third.
Keep It Fair, a seven-year-old mare, has now won 10 of 23 starts in 2013 and jumped her earnings to $48,489 for owner Angelo Schifano. Batavia Downs' current leading trainer John Mungillo conditions the winner.
The busy racing week resumes this Friday night at 6:30 p.m. with a 12-race program on tap. The feature, the second race on the card, will be the $8,500 Open Trot as Mythical Hall seeks his third straight victory. Mythical Hall will score from the three-hole and is listed as the 6-5 morning line favourite. Ron Beback Jr. will be in the sulky. The Pick 5 carryover pool going into Friday's program is $793.50.
(Batavia Downs)