Chapter Twelve and Double Up N both utilized front-end tactics to win the $9,500 featured Class A races at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Aug. 15.
In the Class A trot, Chapter Twelve (Shawn Gray) went right to the front as the betting favourite and posted consistent splits of :29.3, :59.2 and 1:29.1 while Bluemoon Guide (Andy Shetler) tracked from the garden spot. By the time Chapter Twelve made his way through the last turn, he opened up a 2-1/2-length lead and held sway with that margin to cross the line first in 1:59.3. Star Pilot (Shawn McDonough) motored for second over Bluemoon Guide.
Chapter Twelve ($4.32), owned by Jagged Brook Farms and trained by Sam Smith, scored his second win in his last three starts and third of the season in 14. The six-year-old son of What The Hill-Lady Clarabella is now 24-for-131 lifetime.
In the Class A pace, Double Up N (Dave McNeight III) left like a rocket and blasted to the quarter in :27.4, on top by 3-3/4 lengths. As post-time favourite Tonto Returns (Kevin Cummings) sat a loose pocket, Double Up N reached the half in :57.2 and braced as 27-1 shot Ideal Perfect Ten (Shawn Gray) and 28-1 shot Odds On Anubis (Andy Shetler) were out and making up ground fast. The group passed three-quarters in 1:26.3 and entered turn four with Double Up N still in control, but Odds On Anubis had moved into second and was only 1-1/2 lengths behind at the top of the stretch. The top two horses duelled to the finish, where Double Up N hung on to win by a half-length in 1:56.1. Ideal Perfect Ten completed the top three.
The win was the fourth of the year in 20 outings for Double Up N ($5.36), who is owned by Lucky Label Stable LLC and trained by Taylor Fritz. The 10-year-old son of American Ideal-Vegas Delight won for the 33rd time in 167 lifetime outings.
Driver Drew Monti had a grand slam in the bike on the 12-race Saturday card. Monti won with My Mind Is Madeup (1:56.4, $20.22), Baby Yoda (2:00.1, $5.06), Street Art (1:57.3, $2.76) and Pembroke Red (2:01, $15.66). Eleven different trainers all won one race apiece.
Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. This will be the last Sunday matinee card of the meet.
(With files from Batavia Downs)