Driver Drew Monti and trainer Maria Rice teamed up to capture the top two feature races at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Aug. 9 with Melanion N and Lip Reader A, and both winners got across in contrasting styles.
First, Melanion N went his best mile of the year as he won the $18,493 Open Handicap Pace in gate-to-wire fashion.
Monti put Melanion N on the point from a pole position start and was never headed from there. After early fractions of :27.4 and :57.3, Villiam (Joe Chindano Jr.) made a first-over move and got to within a length of Melanion N at three-quarters in 1:25.2. But that would be as close as he would get, as Melanion N started to pull away in the last turn and then opened up by 2-1/2 lengths as he won handily in 1:53.2. Egomania (Jim Morrill Jr.) closed late to dead heat for place with Villiam.
Melanion N ($2.90), who is owned by Dr. Michael Miller, is now four-for-20 this season. The eight-year-old Bettors Delight-Georgias Jury gelding has won 15 of 83 career outings.
In the $17,123 Open II Pace, Lip Reader A went from worst to first on the strength of a thrilling stretch drive.
Lip Reader A got away eighth and last as Fantome En Joie (Jim McNeight Jr.) and Stranger Things (Kevin Cummings) argued for the lead over a :27.1 quarter mile. Stranger Things eventually took the group to the half in :56.2 before Part Time Affair (Kyle Swift) moved first-over into contention. The top two battled to three-quarters in 1:25, where Lip Reader A was still eight lengths away and last, but moving outside with cover. When the race reached the top of the stretch, it looked like Stranger Things started to pull away. But Lip Reader A was flying down the middle of the track and passed the entire field to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.4. Stop Action (Chindano) finish second, followed by Stranger Things.
Lip Reader A ($7.10), now five-for-15 on the campaign, is owned by Vogel And Wags Nags LLC and Team Rice Racing LLC. The 11-year-old Sportswriter-Strike Line gelding earned his 40th career win in 155 appearances.
Trainer Brandon Presto harnessed four winners on the 15-race card. He kicked off proceedings with Uriel Blue Chip ($8.60), who won the opener in 1:55.3 off a second-over trip, and he then took Races 7 and 8 back-to-back with Target Aquired ($3) in 1:53.3 and The Downtown Bus ($2.20) in 1:54.3. He completed his grand slam in the 11th race as Urkillinmesmalls ($3.70) won in 1:59.3. Presto has won 123 races this season and boasts a 23.4 per cent strike rate.
Monti and Jim Morrill Jr. led all drivers on Saturday as each scored a hat trick.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday with post time at 6 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs; photo of Melanion N winning on Aug. 9)