A patient drive by Kyle Cummings paid big dividends for owner-trainer Lee Dahn after Silver Arrow roared down the lane to an upset victory off a perfect trip at 16-1 in the $12,300 Open I Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 4).
Sunfirewindrain was in his favourite spot — on the point — and stepped off solid fractions of :27.2 and :56.2 while Catch A Lefty A, Silver Arrow and the rest of the field stayed single file behind. As they headed by the five-eighths, Thor De Vie made a first-up move and tried to advance to the front. But when the third quarter went :28, Thor De Vie stalled and Sunfirewindrain opened two lengths heading into the last turn.
Sunfirewindrain looked strong heading around the turn but things were about to change. Catch A Lefty A left the pocket, allowing Silver Arrow to slide up the pylons. These two horses flanked Sunfirewindrain, and he was really starting to feel the heat. With all three drivers fully animated as they headed for home, the three horses paced hard side by side all the way down the lane. They hit the wire in a photo with a mere nose separating all three and the advantage going to Silver Arrow in a 1:54.1 season’s best victory.
It was the first Batavia Downs win of the year for Silver Arrow and fourth overall this year. He paid $34.80 to win.
The undercard provided another good payoff. After having not raced in over a month and starting tonight fresh off a qualifier, Endeavors Pride dropped one class and popped at 7-1 to upset in the $11,000 Open II Pace.
Major Asset took command by the quarter and set a moderate pace of :57.1 to the half. In the third bend, Santana Beach pulled first-up from fifth and Endeavors Pride was right on his back. The outer flow caught the leader by three-quarters and just before coming out of the turn, Cummings pulled Endeavors Pride and blew right to the front and paced away to victory in 1:54.2.
Endeavors Pride picked up his fifth win of the year for owner Mike Torcello and trainer Gerry Sarama. Kevin Cummings drove the $16.20 winner.
Kevin Cummings, Sarama and Torcello also won with Ginger Tree Lerue (1:56.3, $7.10) and Bs Yankee (1:55.3, $4.00) for the triple to lead in all categories for wins on Saturday.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Labour Day Monday (Sept. 6) with a special matinee post time of 1:15 p.m. (EDT). Please note that there will be a carryover pool of $2,403 available on Labour Day in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 in Race 8.
(Batavia Downs)