Lucan Hanover won his third straight at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Sept. 29 after taking the $10,500 Open Handicap Pace.
As was the case the past two weeks, driver John Cummings Jr. put Lucan Hanover on the point right off the gate and was never headed from there. Posting fast fractions of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:24.2, Lucan Hanover turned for home and paced away with a two-length margin of victory in 1:52.2.
"'Lucan' did it all himself; he's all class," Cummings said after the race.
It was the 35th win lifetime for Lucan Hanover, who now has over $1.14 million on his card. He is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Pine Hill Racing LTD and is trained by Maria Rice. He paid $9.70 to win.
In the $9,000 Open II Pace, Heaven Rocks, driven by Drew Monti, got a perfect two-hole trip behind China Dream from the start of the race until the top of the stretch when the leader bore out. Heaven Rocks then shot through the gap to win in 1:54.1, a season's best.
Owned by Tessa Roland and trained by JD Perrin, Heaven Rocks, paying $12.00 to win, registered his sixth win of the year.
The Downs' leading driver Drew Monti and trainer JD Perrin teamed up for a Grand Slam on Saturday. Besides Heaven Rocks, the tag-team of Monti and Perrin also shuttled across Four Diamond (1:55.3, $5.70), Hands Off Frank (1:55.2, $2.40) and Hardts Or Bettor (1:54.2, $3.60).
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs)