Big Baller continued to make a case for himself as "Trotter Of The Year" at Batavia Downs by winning the $9,000 Open Trot Friday night (Sept. 28) in 1:58.4 over a fast track.
The win was the fourth for Big Baller in his last six starts in the Open Trot at Batavia Downs. In his two losses, Big Baller finished second, losing by a combined one and a half lengths.
Big Baller ($4.40) and reinsman Dan Noble used a quick :27.2 first quarter to reach the top as Typical Newyorker and driver Ray Fisher Jr. tried to park the winner as long as possible. After reaching the half in :58.3, Big Baller and the rest of the field of six were double-decked down the backstretch, with everyone in contention. There were no serious challengers, however, as Big Baller was able to trot away from any possible threats down the lane. He scored a one and a half length win over last week's Open Trot winner, Under The Stars (Jim McNeight Jr.), while Typical Newyorker finished third.
In scoring his seventh win of the 2012 campaign, Big Baller, a five-year-old Panama Hanover gelding, has now earned $55,583 for owners Curran Racing LLC of Red Hook, New York and Adam Michael of Passaic, New Jersey. Bobbi Jo Martin trains the winner.
Reinman Dan Noble continues to inch closer to milestone win 3,000 after driving home a pair of winners. He enters the Saturday program with 2,986 wins.
Live racing continues on Saturday night with a 13-race program scheduled for 6:25 p.m. The $9,000 Open Pace is the feature and will go off as the seventh race. What The Sheik, with driver Shawn Gray, is stepping up in ranks and is the morning line 3-1 favourite.
(Batavia Downs)