Hickfromfrenchlick came to play on Sunday, Aug. 4 in his $58,700 division of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings at Batavia Downs and he went gate to wire in impressive fashion while equaling the track record time.
Leaving from post one driver Matt Kakaley rolled Hickfromfrenchlick (So Surreal-My Girls A Star) and had prohibitive-post-time favourite Shake That House alongside also trying to make the front. The two tangled to the quarter in :26.2 until Buter relented and ducked into the pocket heading into the second turn. With no pressure moving to the half, Kakaley slowed the pace with a :28.3 second quarter, but as soon as the second circuit ensued Shake That House pulled and came right back at the leader one more time.
Hickfromfrenchlick and Shake That House paced in tandem from the five-eighths to the three-quarters and got there in 1:22.4. Around the final bend Hickfromfrenchlick got a half-length advantage that he took into the stretch. Kakaley threw the lines and his horse was responded with more to put away Shake That House while holding off a quick-closing Buddy Hill to win by a neck in 1:51.2.
The winning time of 1:51.2 was a lifetime mark for Hickfromfrenchlick and also tied the Batavia Downs track record for three-year-old pacing colts set by All Bets Off back in 2014. Kakaley also drove All Bets Off in that record performance.
“Well we had the rail and he’s good on the front so that’s where I wanted him, especially with no passing lane here. We controlled the pace and he responded well to the challenge,” said Kakaley. “He was getting a little tired in the lane but he saw the one (Buddy Hill) coming at him and had enough left to hold him off at the wire.”
When told he tied the track record of All Bets Off Kakaley said “As I recall we were on the front that day too and he had quite a bit left at the wire.” All Bets Off ran away with that race by eight lengths.
Hickfromfrenchlick scored his fourth win in seven starts this year and now has $114,925 on the card in 2019. Ray Schnittker trains and co-owns Hickfromfrenchlick with Nolamaura Racing and Thomas Spatorico. Steve Jones bred the $6.50 winner.
In the second $58,700 division American Mercury was peerless in victory after controlling all fractions from the start.
Tyler Buter floated American Mercury (American Ideal-Tessa Hanover) off the gate after Arties Ideal bolted to the front. He then rolled outside and took over the lead in :28.1. The field stayed single file while American Mercury hit the half in only :57.
Magic Joe Lindy pulled first up at the five-eighths and advanced towards the leader. He got to within one length of American Mercury at the three-quarters and stayed there around the last turn. When they hit the stretch Buter was line driving American Mercury and he was pacing strongly all the way to the wire to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:52.2.
It was the third straight win for American Mercury and sixth of the season. The gelding has now earned $211,843 this year for owners Crawford Farms Racing, Northfork Racing Stable, Chuck Pompey and Scott Bice. Steve Stewart, Julie and Charles Nash bred the $2.10 winner.
There were also $15,000 divisions of the Excelsior “A” series that were won by:
Rickybobbyandthehaus (American Ideal-Molly Can Do It)
Driver - Tyler Buter
Owner - Crawford Farms, Northfork Racing Stable, Billy Timmins and Anthony Timmins
Trainer - Chris Oakes
Breeder - Blue Chip Bloodstock
Time - 1:53.4
Mutuel - $4.40
Chatelroll (Roll With Joe-Chatelaine)
Driver - Jason Bartlett
Owner - Purple Haze Stable
Trainer - George Ducharme
Breeder - Twinbrook Limited
Time - 1:53.2
Mutuel - $3.00
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday, Aug. 5 with post time at 5 p.m.
(with files from Batavia Downs)