After laying in wait for over seven-eighths of the mile, Stranger Things found a gap late and shot through it to narrowly win the $17,778 Open Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Aug. 16.
Shawn McDonough got away third with Stranger Things as Fulsome (Kyle Swift) and Lip Reader A (Drew Monti) traded leads through the :27.2 quarter. Lip Reader A finally gained control in turn two and then rolled past the half and to three-quarters, where Egomania (Jim Morrill Jr.) had moved first-over and was third in the breeze, just outside of Stranger Things, as the race entered the last turn. Positions remained unchanged until they entered the stretch where Egomania tired and drifted out, allowing McDonough to tip Stranger Things off the pegs and take a run at the leader. Lip Reader A had put away Fulsome in deep stretch, but Stranger Things bolted between horses and snapped Lip Reader A in the shadow of the wire to win by a head in 1:53.4.
The win was the seventh of the year for Stranger Things ($14.80) who is owned by Kathy Schoeffel and James Reuther and trained by Angelo Nappo.
Earlier in the $16,667 Open II Pace, Davey Day Trader (Dave McNeight III) led at every station by a gapped margin while setting quarters of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:27.1 with only the pocket-sitting Great Service (Drew Monti) within striking range. After spinning out of the final bend, Davey Day Trader was up by two lengths and stretched out from there, winning easily in 1:54.4 on the strength of a :27.3 final panel.
Like Stranger Things, it was also the seventh win of the year for the heavily-backed Davey Day Trader ($2.60), who is owned by James Costa and Peter Kibler and trained by Dave McNeight Jr.
Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday, Aug. 21 with post time at 6 p.m. with an $862 carryover in the race one Pick-5 and an $1,194 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in race 14.
(with files from Batavia)