It was a good day at the office for Dakota Jackson, who watched two of his trainees win races at Batavia Downs, taking the co-featured $18,750 Opens on Sunday, Aug. 9.
With Andy Shetler driving, Jackson trainee Trente Deo won the Open Handicap Pace after taking a lot of air in a first-over effort.
Trente Deo got away fifth as Its Electrifying N (Leon Bailey) bested favourite Lanjo Lee (Kyle Cummings) for the lead and crossed over past the :27.2 quarter. But no sooner than Its Electrifying N set up shop on the point, Shetler had Trente Deo out and rolling at three-eighths and methodically moved into second and matching strides with Its Electrifying N as they passed three-quarters, with the middle splits clocked in :56.4 and 1:25.3. Inch by inch, Trente Deo drew even with the leader in the far turn and then pulled ahead as they straightened for home. From there, Trente Deo had a clear lead and held off the late rush presented by Lanjo Lee to win by a neck in 1:54.3. Luck It Up (Brett MacDonald) finished third over Its Electrifying.
The win was the second win in a row and fifth of the season from 20 for the venerable 10-year-old Trente Deo ($38.14), who is owned by Kelly Jackson of Monroe, Michigan. Stepping up from an Open II victory last week, the Captaintreacherous-Electric Fool ridgling was overlooked in the wagering -- let go at 18-1 odds -- and rewarded his backers with a $38.14 payout.
Jackson's next winner, Shine All The Way lived up to his name in the Open Handicap Trot, going gate to wire in unfettered fashion with Dave McNeight III in the bike.
Shine All The Way left sharply from post two and struck a 1-1/4-length lead as he cruised by the quarter in a tepid :29 flat. McNeight backed it off even further in the second panel, getting to the half in a meager :59.1, as he was receiving no opposition from behind. As they motored up the backstretch, favourite Valentine Express (Shawn Gray) finally moved in the breeze and tried to apply some pressure to Shine All The Way, who was in total control and still a loose length clear at three-quarters in 1:28.3. Positions remained unchanged through turn four and when they entered the stretch, McNeight raised the lines and Shine All The Way finished the job by bolting to the line ahead by two lengths, a winner in 1:57.1. Valentine Express finished second and El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) was third.
The win was the sixth of the year in 24 starts for Shine All The Way, who is owned by Jason Seymour of Adrian, Michigan. A runner-up in the Open last week, the nine-year-old gelding by Dontyouforgetit-Heres Holly was the 7-5 second choice on the tote board and paid $4.88 to win.
This week's sub-featured $16,944 Open II Handicap Pace was won by favourite Saulsbrook Victor ($2.96), who overcame his outside post assignment and rallied wide to catch pacesetter Italian Lad N (Leon Bailey) by a nose in 1:55 flat. Driver Brett MacDonald co-owns the eight-year-old Source Of Pride-Atlanta Girl gelding with Brent MacLennan of Charlottetown, P.E.I. Brett's dad Ron handles the training duties on the career winner of 39 races and more than $940,000. The Canadian invader earned his first Batavia victory in three attempts, dropping from the New York track's top tier Open level.
Dave McNeight III and Drew Monti both had three driving wins on Sunday while trainers Jennifer Petrelli and Rachelle Mungillo joined Dakota Jackson with two wins apiece.
Live harness racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Aug. 12) at 5 p.m. with the New York Sire Stakes back in town featuring one division of two-year-old pacing colts and geldings lining up for the hefty sum of $110,200 USD.
(With files from Batavia Downs; photo of Shine All The Way winning on Aug. 9)