Despite not missing the board once over the last three months, Stop Action was released at 8-1 by the betting public and he made them regret it after winning the $15,000 Open I Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (July 30).
Ideal Artillery maintained his pylon position and led the single-file field through splits of :27.4 and :57 while Stop Action sat chilly in the pocket. Shortly after that station, Just Plain Loco came rolling first up in the breeze and pushed Ideal Artillery to a speedy :27.4 third panel.
The battle continued through the last turn, but Ideal Artillery had more ammunition and shot down Just Plain Loco's attack. When the field straightened for the stretch, Ideal Artillery looked like he was home but driver Kevin Cummings dipped into the passing lane with Stop Action and ran down the leader at the wire and won by a half length in a season's best 1:53.1
It was the ninth win of the year for Stop Action who is owned by Super Mile and trained by Angelo Nappo. He paid $19 to win.
Cummings and Nappo struck again in the $14,000 Open II Handicap pace with Stranger Things, who pulled first over at the half, drew alongside and eventually overpowered the front-stepping McSpidey and then held off the late-closing Blue Spanx to win by a quarter length in 1:54.1, which was his fastest mile of the year.
James Reuther owns Stranger Things. He paid $10.60 to win.
Cummings finished the night with a driving hat trick.
Finally in the $13,750 Open III Pace, Art Scene made an early move from fifth before the half and took a lot of air in downing leader Black Is Back and then cruised to the wire on top by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.1.
Art Scene is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing and is trained by Maria Rice. Jim Morrill Jr. drove the $5.10 winner.
Morrill had a driving grand slam to lead all reinsman on Saturday.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Sunday (July 31) with post time at 1:15 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab.