Back-to-back $18,243 Open Handicaps for both gaits topped the bill at Batavia Downs on Saturday night, Sept. 14 and fast miles were produced in each by pylon position participants.
In the top trot, favourite Biscoe was a dominant winner after leading at every station in unfettered fashion for driver Jim McNeight Jr.
The seven-horse field was scratched down to a five-horse start with Treasured Tee (Joe Chindano Jr.) leaving and crossing over before entering the turn while Biscoe was seated from post one. But shortly after passing the eighth pole, McNeight pulled Biscoe and rolled to the front before the quarter. Biscoe then cut the breeze with fractions of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:27.4 with Treasured Tee trying to stay close. When the field came out of the last turn and entered the top of the stretch, Biscoe swelled up and bolted home on top by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:57.2, matching his fastest previous win at The Downs this year. Treasured Tee held on in a tight race for place.
The win was the sixth of the year in 21 starts for Biscoe ($3.90), who is owned by his driver, McNeight Jr. Jim McNeight trains the four-year-old son of International Moni.
In the featured pace, Tiger Baron (pictured above) and Dave McNeight III also left from the invisible rail and set a tepid pace of :58 to the half. That prompted a lot of action from behind as a multi-horse outer flow rolled into contention led by Better Take It (Kevin Cummings). As the field headed up the backstretch, Tiger Baron picked up the pace, Better Take It stalled in the race and Mirragon A (Shawn McDonough) moved three-wide in haste, drawing alongside Tiger Baron at three-quarters in 1:26. Mirragon A took the lead in the last turn and held it until the top of the stretch. That’s where Tiger Baron took back control under a highly animated drive by McNeight and forged ahead by a half-length to win in 1:53.3, tying his seasonal mark. The slightly favoured pocket-sitter, Villiam (Joseph Chindano Jr.), edged out Mirragon A for second.
Tiger Baron ($9.10) notched his seventh win of the year from 28 starts for owner Courtney McNeight. Dave McNeight Jr. trains the nine-year-old gelding by Western Terror. It was one of three wins for McNeight III on the card.
Drew Monti was the leading driver on Saturday, scoring a grand slam in the bike. Monti won with RD Skippy (1:55, $3.90), Lanas Desire (1:54, $2.60), Duck Dynasty (1:54.3, $22.60) and Admiral Hanover (1:54.3, $4.60). Monti also had a second and two thirds from his 11 drives.
The Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta was hit in the last race. The single unique winning combination of 2-9-4-6-7 returned $3,832.60 for the 20-cent wager.
Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Sept. 18 with post time at 6 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs)