Overlooked by the bettors at 13-1 despite a convincing win two weeks ago in a lower class, Xenias Chip made a statement Wednesday night (Sept. 27) by winning the $15,000 Open I Handicap Pace for fillies and mares at Batavia Downs.
Xenias Chip (Kevin Cummings) got away third as Imprincessgemma A (John Cummings Jr.) skated to the quarter in :28.3. Just past that station, Won Surreal Deal (Dave McNeight III) pulled first-over and made her way to second passing the half, with two mares following in the outer flow that left Xenias Chip locked in at the pylons.
As the race motored up the backside, Imprincessgemma A continued to own the lead but was under duress from Won Surreal Deal and the pocket-sitting Come Out And Play (Jim Morrill Jr.), who pushed her to a :27.4 third panel. The top three positions remained the same around the last turn but then Xenias Chip finally had room to advance and made her way to the five-path at the top of the stretch. With four horses still ahead of her, Xenias Chip dug deep and paced furiously to the line where she won by one-half length in 1:54.3, taking a new lifetime mark.
It was the eighth win of the year from 28 starts for Xenias Chip ($33), who is owned by Keith Pinkowski and trained by Jim Graham.
In the secondary featured $11,500 mid-level conditioned pace for female participants, the well travelled and win-laden Doyoukissfirstdate (Dave McNeight III) took no prisoners after striking the front, controlling the pace by a gapped margin and pacing home easily by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.4 to score her 12th win of the year from 28 starts. Doyoukissfirstdate ($7.20) is owned by Gary Ballowe and trained by David Russo.
The Downs' second leading driver, Jim Morrill Jr., won five races on the card Wednesday. He scored with Tobins Diva (1:56.2, $3.60), A Black Diamond (1:55.2, $2.60), Silverhill Blaze (1:56.4, $2.80), American Jazz (1:55.3, $2.50) and Flo (1:56, $3.90). Morrill’s last three wins were a natural hat trick in races 11, 12 and 13. Morrill now has 96 wins at the current meet and trails Kevin Cummmings (105) by nine wins.
Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. and there will be a $697 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race 13.
(Batavia Downs)