It didn't look like the weather was going to cooperate with any attempts the three-year-old filly trotters were going to have in breaking the track record in the New York Sire Stakes at Batavia Downs Saturday night (Sept. 21). But someone forgot to tell Bouncing Bax.
Despite rainy conditions during the day, the Batavia Downs strip was listed as 'good,' but it was Bouncing Bax (Credit Winner-Bax Machine) who was 'fast' as she tied the track record of 1:57.2, set by Cowgirl Hall in 2012, winning her $42,679 division of the Sires Stakes. The win was her fourth consecutive and also set a lifetime mark.
Royal Malinda raced to a huge early lead and hung on to win her $41,879 leg in 1:58.3 while Palm Beach Chic rallied in the stretch to capture her $41,879 division in 1:59.2.
But it was Bouncing Bax ($2.90) who stole the spotlight. She contently trotted along in third-place until midway down the backstretch the final time. That's when driver Jim Morrill Jr. pulled out and went first over and she easily trotted away from the field, beating the pace-setting Alphadoodle (Rick Zeron) by two lengths. Local favourite Barn Babe (John Cummings Jr.) finished in third.
With the victory, Bouncing Bax has now earned $198,732 for the Harbor Racing Stable this season and $255,964 lifetime. Jim Raymer trained the winner.
In the opener, Royal Malinda raced to a seven-length lead to the half and was throttled down by driver-trainer Dan Daley in the lane to notch a two and a quarter length victory over Isabella Gal (Aaron Byron). Dubai Angel took the show spot for driver Roman Lopez. Heavily favoured Lola De Vie, who trailed by 10 lengths at the half, broke stride there and finished a distant fourth.
The win was the fourth in 16 appearances for Royal Malinda (RC Royalty-Linda MacDream) and pushed her seasonal earnings to $114,916 for owners Ann-Mari Daley, Richard Lombardo and the Purple Haze Stables.
The final division saw Kinda Crazy Linda (Jim Marohn Jr.) play 'catch me if you can' with the field of six and Palm Beach Chic (Marcus Johansson) did just that. Kinda Crazy Linda set fractions of :29., :59.3 and 1:29.1, but a :29.2 last quarter by Palm Beach Chic ($9.20) was more than enough to catch the front-runner and score the two-length victory. Cassas Image (Fern Paquet Jr.) took the show position.
With her fourth win on the campaign, Palm Beach Chic has now earned $112,982 on the year and $155,934 lifetime for owners Jeff Gregory and William Richardson.
In the $12,800 Excelsior Series for the three-year-old trotting fillies, See You At Office ($2.80) had the fastest time with a 2:01 effort with Morrill Jr. in the bike. Cash Now ($6.90) took a leg for John Cummings Jr. in 2:01.2 while Morosita Bi ($5.30) posted a 2:02.1 victory for reinsman Brian Cross.
Sportsman ($6.70) went gate-to-wire in 1:55.3 for Cummings Jr. and captured the $8,500 Open Pace beating Western Alumni (Morrill Jr.) by three and a half lengths.
(With files from Batavia Downs)