On a special night when reinsman Ben Webster and Patsy C. Rapone were inducted into the Batavia Downs Casino Hall of Fame and five area high schools dashed for cash in the $7,500 College Scholarship race it was Cam Patch and Kevin Cummings who took advantage of an easy trip to win the $9,000 featured Open pace on Saturday night
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With three horses leaving, Cam Patch got to the front first while Fantasypan (Jim McNeight) took the tuck behind him and Nifty Prescott (John Cummings Jr.) continued pressing on the outside and eventually took the lead at the quarter in a quick :27:3. Everyone continued to chase Nifty Prescott although he backed down on the second quarter in a humble :29:4. A weak outer flow formed at the half but provided hardly any position movement from the field as they went to the three quarters in 1:25.4. Approaching the top of the stretch, Cam Patch decided to take the lane three deep and charged for the win. With a final time of 1:54.3, Cam Patch finished first by half a length. Following in second was the pacesetter Nifty Prescott and Precious Medal (Jack Rice) pushed up for third. Cam Patch notched his fifth win of the season and raised his seasonal earnings to $29,254 for owners David Ball and Jerry Reinhart. He's trained by Alex Guiliani. This was a driving double for Cummings who also won the fifth with Redford Hall ($4.70).
In other racing action, Ray Fisher Jr. scored the natural hat trick winning the eleventh with Allamerican Improv ($5.50), twelfth with Dontgetintheway ($9.40) and thirteenth with Martin hanover ($15.60). Doubles on the night were also scored by Daniel Yetman in the first with Rembrandt Van Ryn ($10.60) and the ninth with Enzo Seelster ($9.70), and Jack Flanigen in the third with Eagle Art M ($4.40) and the fourth with Sb Quents Knight ($5.30).
Elizabeth Shuknecht representing Elba High School, with professional Jim Graham, won the $7,500 College Scholarship race, Saturday night at Batavia Downs Casino.
Leaving from the rail, Elizabeth driving 'Betsy Ross' went wire to wire holding off 'Wyatt Night' with Pembroke High's Wyatt Chittenden and professional Dave McNeight III. The final time of 2:13 was a new record for the scholarship race. Last year Kaley Falkowski from Batavia High won in 2:14.2
Finishing third was Natalie Tuites fom Batavia High with Jim Mulcahy, they just nosed out Kendra Wall of Notre Dame of Batavia and Mike Pokornowski in a photo finish while Conor George from Oakfield High and professional Mike Baumeister completed the field.
All the teens were winners receiving scholarship funds of $3,000, $2,000, $1,200, $800 and $500 for their efforts. Each was required to attend at least five training sessions to learn the full equine experience associated with the harness racing industry.
The college scholarship race is a partnership of the Harness Horse Breeders of New York, Western New York Harness Horsemen's Association, Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs Casino.
Live racing resumes on Tuesday, September 13th at Batavia Downs Casino. Post time is 6:40 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)