Driver Kevin Cummings had his biggest night of the meet so far at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Aug. 10 after winning a total of five races on the 13-race program. His most notable victory was in the $18,493 Open Handicap Pace with The Longest Yard (pictured above).
Vel Mr Nice Guy (Joe Chindano Jr.) cut the mile while The Longest Yard sat chilly in the garden spot with the trip. After the pacers passed the half in a tepid :57, Melanion N (Drew Monti) pulled first-over in turn three and marched towards the leader up the backstretch. After the pace picked up with a 1:25.2 third quarter, Melanion N got to within a length of Vel Mr Nice Guy and closed that gap a bit more in the far turn.
When the group straightened out for home, The Longest Yard shook loose at the pylons and the three horses dashed to the wire. In deep stretch, Vel Mr Nice Guy faded but Melanion N and The Longest Yard forged ahead and hit the light in unison, taking a photo to determine that The Longest Yard won by a nose in 1:53.3. Vel Mr Nice Guy finished three-quarters of a length behind in third.
The win was the fourth of the year from 22 starts for the five-year-old Rockin Image gelding The Longest Yard ($3.60), who is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith.
The wins kept coming for Cummings with Better Take It (1:54.3, $4.60) and Ys Lotus (1:55.4, $3.60), who were also owned by Torcello and trained by Smith, and with Kyuquot (1:57.4, $6.60) and Thor De Vie (1:56.2, $2.30) rounding out his quintuple.
The co-featured $18,493 Open I-II Handicap Trot was won by Treasured Tee (Joe Chindano Jr.), who led from start to finish. After clocking fractions of :27.4, :58.2 and 1:27.4, Treasured Tee rounded the final bend and then headed for home, stretching out to a 1-1/2-length upset victory in 1:57.4. Valentine Express (Kevin Cummings) finished second and Biscoe (James McNeight Jr.) was third.
It was the seventh win of the year from 28 starts for Treasured Tee ($29.20), who is owned by Stephane Geoffroy and Francis Guillemette, who also trains the nine-year-old Yankee Gide gelding.
Chindano had a solid night in the bike himself after scoring a hat trick. One of those three wins was trainer Gerard Demers' pacer Keystone Doral, who was last at three-quarters before circling the field to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:57.4 at 49-1. Keystone Doral paid $100.50 to win.
Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 6 p.m. and there will be a $1,902 carryover in the Pick-5 in the first race and a $280 carryover in the Super Hi-5 in race 13.
(With files from Batavia Downs)