Thrilling stretch drives with close finishes were the order of the day at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 8), when two-year-old trotting colts and geldings visited the Genesee County oval to compete in the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for $109,000 in available purses.
Thunder (Conway Hall-CR Oh Suzanna) won the first $54,500 division with a big brush from behind.
JNR Express (Jim Morrill Jr.) cut a decent first quarter before slowing the half, forcing Chip Chip Conway (Jim Taggart Jr.) to pull first-up with Thunder (Kevin Cummings) following right behind. JNR Express and Chip Chip Conway hooked up and went at it toe to toe from the five-eighths all around the last turn, with Thunder drafting behind. Thunder tipped three-deep at the head of the lane and chased down Chip Chip Conway in deep stretch to win in 1:58.3.
"I had to get after him to get him started; he was a little lazy. But he was good once he got started. He's a nice going trotter," said Cummings after the race.
It was the second straight win and a new lifetime mark for Thunder ($9.60), who is owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Jeremey Day and the VIP Internet Stable. John Butenschoen trains the winner. Thunder was bred by Walnut Hall Limited.
Cavill Hanover (Muscle Mass-CR Calendar Girl) took the second $54,500 split after a very hard-fought battle to the wire.
Horns For Three (Kevin Cummings) went right to the front and Cavill Hanover (Åke Svanstedt) dropped in right in behind him. With the field single file to the half, Cummings backed it off considerably, forcing Cavill Hanover to pull and challenge just past that station. Drawing alongside the leader by the three-quarters, Cavill Hanover and Horns For Three were now hooked up in a match race. The two trotted like a mirror image around the final bend, down the stretch and all the way to the wire, where Cavill Hanover just got the advantage and won in 1:59.3, with a snappy back half of :57.4.
Svanstedt was complimentary of both his horse as well as Horns For Three. "My horse went good, but the horse we beat went good too. The race was very competitive."
Cavill Hanover ($3.90) has now won three out of his last four races for his connections, Little E, Vanersol Inc. and Wolfgang A Stable. His driver Åke Svanstedt also does the training. Cavill Hanover was bred at Hanover Shoe Farm.
There were also three $15,000 Excelsior “A” races on the card.
Lucky June Bug (Lucky Chucky-Ebbtide Hall) trotted in 2:00 and registered a new lifetime mark for driver John MacDonald and trainer Stanley "Chip" Zombick Jr. Lucky June Bug ($9.30) is owned by Michael Pozefsky, William Pozefsky and Myron Eckstein. Sam Stoltzfus Jr. bred the winner.
Lights Come On (Chapter Seven-Starlit Eyes) won in 2:02.4 and took a new lifetime mark as directed by Drew Monti for trainer Anette Lorentzon. Lights Come On ($3.10) is owned by ACL Stuteri AB, Theodore Gewertz and Anette Lorentzon. Winbak Farm was the breeder.
Jasons Camden (Muscle Mass-Palm Beach Chic) went wire to wire in 2:00.3 for team Orange Crush: Andy Miller in the bike for trainer Julie Miller. Jasons Camden ($2.90) is owned by the Andy Miller Stable, Harvey Eisman and Little E, who also bred the colt.
(Batavia Downs)