American Dealer N scored a 2-1/2-length victory and set an all-time track record of 1:50.2 in the 17th edition of the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Aug. 26).
American Courage fired off the wings and took a quick lead while American Dealer N also left and tucked into the garden spot. After getting to the quarter in :27.1 and the half in :55.3, Gias Surreal was first to pull and try to approach the leader. But American Courage was not slowing after the :27.3 third quarter, and he and American Dealer N were starting to separate from the field. As they came off the turn and headed down the lane, American Dealer N ducked into the passing lane and accelerated like a jet by American Courage for the win.
It was the sixth win of the year for the import American Dealer N, who is owned by Enviro Stables and Ken Jacobs, and trained by Linda Toscano. He paid $26.80 to win.
This was the second Kane win for Jacobs and Toscano. They won the 2008 edition with Kenneth J, who also set the then all-time track record of 1:52.
The New York Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts, geldings and fillies were held at Batavia Downs on Friday evening (Aug. 26) with a total of $232,700 in purses available for the 17 state-bred participants. There were two divisions for fillies and a lone male division that had a purse of $119,800 and that was a heavyweight fight.
Slay (Chapter Seven-Swinging Royalty) got a perfect trip from driver Joe Bongiorno and trotted down Molotov Cocktail in deep stretch to claim a narrow victory.
World At War Deo took over the lead from Chapheart at the :28 quarter and got a short breather to the half before the action really picked up. Molotov Cocktail was the first to pull and Slay was happy to get his cover as they moved around turn three on the second circuit.
They headed up the backside in two rows with World At War Deo still in front with Molotov Cocktail right by his side as they motored to three-quarters. Around the last turn, Molotov Cocktail took the lead in the middle of the track and Slay tipped off his cover going three deep, and the pair hooked up from there. The two trotters were at full speed down the stretch, matching strides all the way. Molotov Cocktail and Slay were inseparable under strong urging from their drivers until just before the line where Slay got a neck in front and won in 1:55.4.
It was the second straight win and fourth of the year for Slay who now has $262,897 made in 2022 for Crawford Farms Racing and James A. Crawford. Tony Alagna trains the colt bred by Jonas Schlabach. He paid $4.60 to win.
Then there were the girls.
The first field of four fillies vied for $55,900 and Cash Infusion (Chapter Seven-Swing Anna Cash) delivered as expected.
Tyler Buter took Cash Fusion off the gate while In A Tiny Way settled in the lead. But that lasted only an eighth of a mile before Buter rushed the front and took command. The group remained single-file until the five-eighths when La Vie En Blanc pulled first up and leveled off in second outside of In A Tiny Way. Around the last turn Cash Infusion started to swell up and opened 1-1/2 lengths by the top of the stretch. Down the lane, Buter sat chilly as Cash Infusion coasted home on top by 2-1/4 lengths in a lifetime mark of 1:55.3.
It was the third win of the year for Cash Infusion, who has now earned $132,723 this year for owners William Donovan, Purnell & Libby, Joe Sbrocco and the George Ducharme Stable. George Ducharme also trains the winner that was bred by Jonas Schlabach. She paid $4.40 to win.
The second group of five lined up for $57,000 and Valentina Blu (Chapter Seven-Corazon Blue Chip) was very strong in victory.
Seven On The Rocks went quickly for the lead but the spot was short-lived as Joe Bongiorno took over with Valentina Blu before the quarter that went :29.1. There were no changes in order until the backstretch when Je Suis Si Belle charged the leader with Shes A Scorcher following close behind. The top four trotted in two rows around the last turn with only three lengths between them until they straightened. In the stretch, Valentina Blu dug in under a drive and opened by 1-1/2 lengths at the light and won in 1:56.1.
It was the second win in a row and third of the year for Valentina Blu and pushed her 2022 earnings to $122,125. Crawford Farms owns the Tony Alagna trained filly that was bred by Spring Haven Farm and Doug Millard. Due to multiple stable entries, Valentina Blu raced for purse only.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 27) at 6:00 p.m. (EDT).
(Batavia Downs)