On a night when overlooked horses took the spotlight, Edom Up Blue Boy ground out a hard earned, first-over victory in the $10,500 Open Handicap Trot at Batavia Downs on Friday (August 18) despite being dismissed by the betting public at 37-1.
Osprey Vision (Dave McNeight III) played give-and-go with the always front-running Lutetium (Drew Monti) and seated the latter for the first time since March. Osprey Vision then marched out quarters of :28.2 and :59.1 before Edom Up Blue Boy (Rock Vinci) pulled first off the stodgy second quarter. Edom Up Blue Boy eventually pulled alongside Osprey Vision past three-quarters and the two then matched strides from there until the wire.
Osprey Vision held a short advantage over Edom Up Blue Boy all the way down the stretch while BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) and Empire Earl N (Larry Stalbaum) were surging and gaining three and four-wide. As the wall of horses hit the wire, Edom Up Blue Boy snuck ahead of Osprey Vision while turning away the late closer’s best his efforts to win in 1:59.1.
It was the fifth win of the year for Edom Up Blue Boy ($57.50) and second Open Trot victory at Batavia Downs in the past month. Driver Rock Vinci also owns and trains the winner.
In the co-featured $8,000 Open II Trot, Corleone Hall (Mike Caprio) pulled from fourth at three-quarters to overtake the front-running Winkys Pride (Drew Monti) and win by one-half length in 1:59.3. The winning time was a seasonal mark as it was the first win of the year for Corleone Hall ($16), who is owned and trained by Perry Wilson.
Mike Caprio and Drew Monti both scored driving doubles on the card.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (August 19) with a $5,000 guaranteed early Pick-5 pool as part of the USTA Strategic Wagering program. The early Pick-5 starts with the first race and runs through race five.
Post time for the first race is 6 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs)