Xenia Hanover is sure liking her new home at Batavia Downs. Since arriving at the New York half-mile oval from Mohawk Racetrack in mid-August, Xenia Hanover has posted three wins in her first three appearances, stepping up in class each time.
Wednesday night, she scored the hat-trick by registering an impressive victory in the $8,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace in 1:55.1 over a fast track.
Real Joy, last week's Filly and Mares Open Pace winner, set the pace posting solid fractions of :28.2, :57.3 and 1:25.3. As the field turned for home, Notreadytobenice and Real Joy were together on the lead as Jens Underdog and Xenia Hanover kicked into gear, fanning out three and four-wide respectively. But near the wire, Xenia Hanover showed she could handle the top level and easily pulled away, beating Notreadytobenice by one and three-quarters lengths while Jens Underdog (Ray Fisher Jr.) and Real Joy (Shawn McDonough) finished in a dead-heat for show.
Greg Merton, Batavia Downs' leading driver, guided Xenia Hanover ($3.40) to the win. She now has five victories in 25 starts and upped her seasonal winnings to $28,650 and lifetime bankroll to $174,738. Xenia Hanover (The Panderosa-Witsends Loiuse) is an eight-year-old mare who is owned by Keith Pinkowski and trained by Mihajlo Zdejelar Jr.
The harness racing action continues on Friday night at Batavia Downs with a 12-race program scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. The feature will be the $8,500 Open Trot with a full field of eight going to the post. Ziegfeld and driver Ray Fisher Jr. have been tabbed the 5-2 morning line favourite and will start from the two post.
(With files from Batavia Downs)