It was no contest in the $10,000 Preferred Pace at Batavia Downs Casino Saturday night as Chris Page and New York Prime ($4.20) took the front as soon as the gate opened and put a sleeper hold on the field as they backed off the half
to a leisurely :58.4. With nothing more than a mild bid by Cam Patch (John Cummings Jr.) to contend with going to the three-quarters, Page hit the jets and smoked home in a brisk :56.1 to win by two and a half lengths. Gerald N Sam (Jack Flanigen) got up late to be third.
It was the fourth win in 24 starts this year, pushing his bankroll to $40,994. New York Prime is owned by Betty Tauber of East Brunswick, New Jersey and Vogel & Wags Nags Stable of Hamburg, New York, and trained by Sherri Holliday.
In the co-featured $8,000 Open Pace, Nifty Prescott (13.80) went wire-to-wire for driver John Cummings Jr. to win by open lengths in an eye popping 1:53.4 time. The race was no contest for the pacer as no one even came close to the winner during any part of the mile.
It was Nifty Prescott’s fifth win of the year and the mile time dropped his season’s best by a full two seconds. The seven-year-old gelding is owned by Grand Gun Stable of Williamsville, New York and trained by Gerry Sarama.
Two drivers had more than half of the wins on the card Saturday. John Cummings Jr. registered four wins and provisional reinsman Shawn McDonough had three. Cummings is currently sitting in second place for dash wins for the meet behind Jack Flanigen.
(Batavia Downs)