For the third week in a row and the fourth time in her last five outings, Roll With Faith dominated the Batavia Downs damsels by winning the $9,500 fillies and mares Open Handicap pace on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 19).
Roll With Faith (Kevin Cummings) watched from last while Little Joke (Billy Davis Jr.) took the lead and led the group to the quarter in :28.1. But Cummings's passive status ended before the three-eighths pole, when he pulled Roll With Faith and started the long trek up the outside.
Roll With Faith caught up with Little Joke up the backside in the midst of a speedy :27.4 third panel, and the two began to battle from there. The pair went stride for stride around the last turn and into the stretch, when both Davis and Cummings really started to work their mounts. They continued to shadow each other until halfway down the stretch, when Roll With Faith got stout and pulled away to a length victory in 1:54.1.
Roll With Faith ($7.30) has earned $60,309 this year on the strength of her now 11 wins for owners Finish Line Investors, Lawrence Willer and John Mungillo, who also trains the mare.
In the $8,000 fillies and mares Open II pace, Classy Lane Rose (Drew Monti) also got away last and stayed there until the three-quarters, when Monti drove up the middle of the pack and then found room in the last turn, where he swung three-deep and flew past everyone to win in 1:56.
It was the fourth win of 2018 for Classy Lane Rose ($23.80), who is owned by Carl Monti. Darrin Monti trains the winner.
Ray Fisher Jr. was the leading reinsman at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, winning five races on the card. He scored with Odysseus (1:54.3, $2.70), Fox Valley Lena (1:55.4, $7.10), No Talking (1:56.1, $14.00), Ali De Vie (1:58.4, $8.90) and Lake Shark (1:57, $9.40).
After tonight’s races, Fisher sits in fourth place for the meet in the dash driving title competition with 28 wins. He trails Kevin Cummings and Drew Monti, who are tied for first with 55 wins each, and Billy Davis Jr., who is a solid third with 42 victories of his own.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 21), when eight divisions of the $320,000 New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) consolation races will be held. Also the richest standardbred of all time, Foiled Again, will be racing in his seventh and final appearance at the Downs, as he makes his way towards retirement at the end of the year. Post time for the first non-betting NYSS event is 5:20 p.m.; post time for the first betting race on the card is 6 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)