Punters playing Batavia Downs on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 21) may have thought they were at Northfield Park by mistake after two of Ohio’s top horsemen, driver Billy Davis Jr. and trainer Cory Kreiser, shipped in for the day and ended up leaving with a lot of purse.
Davis was on fire, winning six of the 11 races he drove on the card including four horses that were trained by Kreiser, who watched a total of six stablemembers go postward.
Davis struck early and often, getting a natural hat trick right out of the box in races one, two and three with Osprey Vision (2:00.2, $4), St. Lads Gidget (1:56.1, $2.90) and Charmbo Orbit (1:56.2, $4.80). Then after finishing third in race four, Davis registered another natural hat trick in races five, six and seven with I Saw You Blink (1:59.3, $4.10), Thats A Bad Boy (1:58.2, $2.10) and Cinderella Delight (1:56.4, $3.90). Northfield’s third leading driver posted a .575 UDR for his work on Sunday.
Kreiser’s four winning trainees were St. Lads Gidget, I Saw You Blink, Thats A Bad Boy and Cinderella Delight. Kreiser, who is currently the top conditioner in Cleveland, also posted some gaudy numbers as a result of his one day success in Genesee County. He headed west on the 90 with a lofty .666 UTR to take home.
The two races neither Buckeye won were the featured trots.
In the $15,000 Open I Handicap, Keystone Apache (pictured above) and driver Jim Morrill Jr. left from post seven, comfortably led the entire race and held off a late charge from Sanchez Rocks (Drew Monti) to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:57 flat. It was the third win in the last four starts and seventh win overall this year for Keystone Apache ($4.10) and it pushed his earnings for the year to $96,684 for Vogel & Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing. Maria Rice was the winning trainer.
Then in the $14,000 Open II, Cash N Chrome (Drew Monti) sat the pocket trip behind Batting Stats (Keith Kash Jr.) until the last turn when he tipped three-deep around Pilgrim Caviar (Dave McNeight III) and trotted home under no urging whatsoever to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:58.4. Cash N Chrome ($5.80) got his fifth win of the year for owners Michael Collins and Angus Mac Donald, who also trains the trotter.
Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 24) at 6 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website and clicking the "Live Racing" tab.
(Batavia Downs)