The 2025 edition of the $138,889 Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace produced the most exciting finish and fastest final time in the history of the race as Captain Albano out-muscled Desperate Man in the stretch and won in 1:50.1, setting a new all-time pacing record at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Aug. 23.
Last year’s Kane winner, Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley), shot to the front and set aggressive fractions of :26.4 and :55 to the half as Captain Albano (Tyler Buter) watched the proceedings from third to that point. As the race made its way onto the second circuit, Buter tipped Captain Albano and marched him towards the leader while Buzzsaw Russ (Jason Bartlett) followed his cover.
Captain Albano got to second and then ducked in behind Desperate Man, who picked up the pace to three-quarters in 1:22.2. After rounding the last bend, Desperate Man entered the stretch with a 1-1/2-length lead and was still pacing strong. But when Buter pulled Captain Albano to go on the attack, the stallion immediately drew alongside Desperate Man. The two double millionaires matched strides down the lane, but Captain Albano opened up by 1-1/2 lengths in deep stretch for the victory. Buzzsaw Russ finished third.
The clocking broke the Batavia Downs all-time track pacing record of 1:50.2 set by American Dealer N in the 2022 Kane.
The win was the 22nd lifetime in 34 starts for Captain Albano ($2.70), who has now earned $2,259,674. He is owned by Patricia Stable, L.A. Express and Sjoblom Inc., Sjoblom Racing Inc., and Michael Dolan. The four-year-old son of Captaintreacherous-Angelou, a two-time Dan Patch award winner, is trained by Noel Daley.
The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) doubled up on the card as three-year-old trotters of both sexes lined up for $328,750 in total purses.
The fillies went one division for $169,167 and My Debt Collecter (Chapter Seven-Magic Presto) captured her sixth NYSS win of the year.
Calculus Risk (Jeff Gregory) got to the front quickly ahead of Chapvious (Jason Bartlett) and seated My Debt Collecter (Tyler Buter) third as they rolled to the quarter in :28.2. The leading trio maintained their positions to the half in :58,, but as they headed past three-quarters in 1:27.1, Buter tipped My Debt Collecter and started the trek towards the leader. Calculus Risk still had a 1-3/4-length advantage as My Debt Collecter seemed to stall on the turn, but when they entered the lane, Buter gave My Debt Collecter her head, and she methodically made up ground on Calculus Risk and then pulled ahead by a half-length at the light in 1:56.3. Chapvious was third.
The 10th career win for My Debt Collecter ($4.20) in 20 starts pushed her earnings to $807,238 for owners Dave McDuffee, Melvin Hartman, and Little E LLC. Nifty Norman trains the winner, who is seven-for-12 this year.
The colts and geldings went to post in two divisions, and in the $79,028 group, Variegated (Chapter Seven-White Cheetah) simply overpowered the competition.
Bartlett took no prisoners with Variegated and led the entire race. After cutting fractions of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:27.3, Bartlett let Variegated go, and the colt pulled away from his rivals on the last turn and then bolted home under wraps by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:56.2 to remain undefeated in the NYSS this year. Seismic Step (Niko Karna) was second-best, followed by Happy Jack B (Kakaley).
Variegated ($2.30) improved to four-for-eight in 2025 for trainer Marcus Melander. He has now earned $650,113 and won six of 16 lifetime outings for owner S R F Stable.
Fadeaway Hanover (Chapter Seven-Fad Finance) went gate-to-wire for his seventh win of the year in the $80,556 first division.
Jim Morrill Jr. got Fadeaway Hanover past Banksy Monkey (Gregory) to lead at the quarter in :29.2. He then got to the half in a soft :59 before an outer flow emerged, led by Seven Layer (Karna), who was followed by Karinchak (Mark MacDonald) through three-quarters in 1:28.3. After rounding the turn and straightening for home, Fadeaway Hanover was still in command, but Karinchak had moved widest of all and made a late lunge at the leader. But he came up short as Fadeaway Hanover hung on to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.4. Seven Layer completed the ticket.
Fadeaway Hanover ($3.70) tallied his seventh win in 16 attempts this year and improved his career record to seven-for-22 with $224,583 in earnings. The Sara Baillargeon-trained gelding is owned by Ben Baillargeon, Santo Vena, and Nunzio Vena.
There were also three $27,778 Excelsior Series divisions for three-year-old trotters. Sister Lo captured the first filly division, a non-betting event before the main card, with Drew Monti at the lines in 1:59.4 for trainer Jim Doherty Jr., who co-owns the daughter of Mets Hall-Female Drama with Hero Stables.
Inn Of The Stars ($10.20) dropped from the NYSS level and trotted the fastest division, winning in 1:57.1. Jim Morrill Jr. piloted the Chapter Seven-Mets Inn filly for trainer John Butenschoen and owner Bay Pond Racing Stable.
Gangsta Talk ($8.20) took the sole dash for males in 1:59 for driver Tyler Buter and trainer Norman Morford. Royal Sun Farms owns the son of Chapter Seven-Gangsta Rat.
Jim Morrill Jr. led all drivers with a grand slam on the 15-race card.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Aug. 27 with post time at 6 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs)