Sportsman wasn't involved in the feature race on Saturday night at Batavia Downs, but the eight-year-old gelding sure did steal the show by pacing the mile in an incredible 1:51.3, the second fastest mile in Batavia Downs' 67-season history.
The track record for aged pacers is 1:51.1 set in 2011 by Aracache Hanover.
Racing for $7,400 in a non-winners of $5,000 in their last five starts with $20,000 claimers also eligible, Sportsman, who was in for the tag, started from the outside in the field of seven. Driver John Cummings Jr. immediately shot to the top with Sportsman ($18.20) and just scorched the field with splits of :27.2, :55.4, and 1:23.2 in posting the electrifying lifetime mark of 1:51.3 over the fast track. He beat Wisers Deluxe (Ray Fisher Jr.) by 10-3/4 lengths while Lahaye (Jim McNeight) finished third.
After that performance, Sportsman probably won't see the claiming ranks for a while.
When asked if Sportsman could have gone faster, Cummings Jr. said in the winner's circle, "I think if I would have been pressured."
Owned and trained by Megan Wilson, Sportsman now has seven victories in 23 starts this season, earning $29,357.
While Sportsman stole the show, the featured $8,500 Open Pace ended in a dead-heat as Zipnthruthehall (Lee Dahn) and What The Sheik (Ray Fisher Jr.) hit the wire together in 1:54.1. Western Alumni (Jack Rice) finished third.
Zipnthruthehall took the lead from the beginning and set the fractions of :27.3, :57.2 and 1:26.2. At the top of the stretch, What The Sheik was three and a quarter lengths back, but went to the passing lane was able to get on even terms with Zipnthruthehall at the finish line with a never-say-die charge. Both returned $2.40 to their backers.
The win was the third straight for Zipnthruthehall while What The Sheik has now scored wins in three of his last four starts.
Cummings Jr. finished the evening's activities with four victories while Batavia Downs' leading driver Greg Merton and Ray Fisher Jr. had doubles.
A special Labour Day card is scheduled for Monday afternoon at 1:15 p.m. The highlight of the 13-race card that begins are two $50,000 divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for two-year-old colt trotters.
(Batavia Downs)