Driver Dave McNeight III started Friday night (Aug. 23) in fifth place for dash wins at Batavia Downs. But when the dust had settled after the 13th race, “Triple Sticks” found himself tied for second place after he won five races on the card.
McNeight won with My Mind Is Madeup (1:54.4, $3.70), Hellrider (1:59.4, $9.70), Black Is Back (1:55, $9.30), Doyoukissfirstdate (1:58.2, $3.00) and Tullow N (1:55.4, $3.60).
Jim Morrill Jr. currently sits in first place with 25 wins, but had the night off. McNeight III started Friday with 14 wins, but moved up to 19 after his big outing. That ties him with Kevin Cummings, who also has 19 wins after his driving double on Friday.
One of Cummings' wins was in one of the two $13,699 featured divisions of mid-level conditioned trotters with Burrow, who scored his second gate-to-wire victory in only three Batavia outings.
Burrow took the lead from Credarina (Dave McNeight III) as they passed the quarter in :28.4 before hitting the brakes to the half in only 1:00.1. While he maintained his 1-1/4-length lead, Burrow got to three-quarters in 1:29 before turning for home and bolting to a 2-1/2-length win in 1:58.3.
Burrow ($2.20) is owned by Redracer, Redline Racing Stables and Rachel Leonard. Matt Rosiek trains the winner.
The other split went to the aforementioned Hellrider, driven by McNeight, for trainer Alana Caprio and owners Caprio Stable and Maryanne Arena.
Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. and there will be a $912 carryover in the Pick-5 in the first race and a $1,498 carryover in the Super Hi-5 in race 15.
On Saturday, the Downs will host its biggest card of the meet that includes two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotters of both genders that total $233,300 USD in purses and the $100,000 USD Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace with some of the best older Open male pacers in North America. The card has a total purse value of more than $500,000 USD and has the capacity to produce a new all-time track record.
(With files from Batavia Downs)