Louie The Lilac has been smelling like a rose at the current Batavia Downs meet and her success continued on Wednesday night (Sept. 20) after she extended her winning streak to five in the $15,000 Open I Handicap Pace for fillies and mares.
Kevin Cummings pushed away the gate with Louie The Lilac and opened up a two-length advantage at the :28.3 quarter and it only got worse for the competition from there. Louie The Lilac opened up 3-1/2 lengths at the half and extended her lead to four as she passed three-quarters in 1:26, with the field following loosely behind her. As the race rounded the far turn, Casies Believer (Joe Chindano Jr.) made her way to second from mid-pack, but had two lengths yet to make up. However, that wasn’t going to happen on this night as Louie The Lilac cruised home first under a line drive from Cummings in 1:55.1.
It was the seventh win this year for Louie The Lilac ($2.60), who is owned by Mike Torcello. Sam Smith trains the winner.
Dave McNeight III had a grand slam on Wednesday, winning with Dancing Lisa (1:55.2, $8.70), Chipper Daisy (1:57.3, $4.20), BNGs Express (1:58.2, $29.60) and Ashlees Delight (1:55.4, $17.40).
The Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta was hit in the 13th race. The combination of 9-5-2-1-7 returned $6,404.90 for a 20-cent wager.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)