The third time was the charm for Class Six, who scored his first top-class victory in three Batavia Downs tries after he won the $8,500 Open I Pace on Saturday (Aug. 15).
Driver Drew Monti pushed Class Six off the gate and to the lead, where he stayed the entire mile. After getting to the half in :58.2, Under Paid launched a mild bid on the outside going to three-quarters, but never got close enough to contend and Class Six rimmed the final bend and headed down the lane. Iluvtomakemoney, who sat the garden spot for seven-eighths of the mile, popped the pocket and made a run, but fell short as Class Six held on to win in 1:55.1.
.jpg)
It was the fourth win of the year for Class Six who is owned by Eric Prevost and trained by Sabrina Shaw. He paid $7.70 to win.
In the $7,500 Open II pace, Western Conquest also took advantage of his speed and went gate to wire with little opposition, denying heavily-favoured Atlantis at the wire in 1:57.1.
It was the second win in three starts and the fourth win of the year for Western Conquest, owner Tanah Merah Farms and trainer Ryan Swift. Ray Fisher Jr. drove the $17.00 winner.
Several horsemen had a multiple-win night led by Shawn McDonough, who drove three winners while also training two of them. Billy Davis Jr. had a driving hat trick ahead of Jim Morrill Jr. and Ray Fisher Jr., who each scored two victories. Trainers Ryan Swift and Jim Clouser Jr. both sent two horses to the Purple Haze winner’s enclosure.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 19) at 5 p.m. (EDT).
(Batavia Downs)