Batavia, NY — New York Sire Stakes 2-year-old pacing fillies invaded Batavia Downs on Thursday (Aug. 14) evening to vie for $110,000 in purse money in two divisions, and both winners did it in gate-to-wire fashion.
The first division went for $54,500, and Liberty Style (American Ideal-Fly In Style) lived up to her billing.
Kevin Cummings pushed Liberty Style off the gate to the lead and got to the :27.3 quarter on top by a gapped margin. With the field loosely following, Liberty Style continued to dictate the pace to the half in :57 and three-quarters in 1:26.1 with Odds On Enigma (Matt Kakaley) right on her back. The fillies rounded the bend and headed for home, and Liberty Style paced smartly to the line while holding off a game Odds On Enigma to win by a half length in 1:55.1.
Liberty Style ($5.40) is owned by Bonnie Benson and her trainer, Andrew Stafford.
In the $55,500 second split, Odds On Monetary (Huntsville-All On Top) was full of pace and a well-rated winner.
Matt Kakaley sent Odds On Monetary to the front and settled on the lead with relative ease. The filly then marched off quarters of :28.4, :57.4 and 1:26.4 by a loose length the entire way. After they came out of the final turn, the pocket-sitting Existential (Leon Bailey) and fast-closing Savage Cindy (Tyler Buter) both did their best to close the gap. But Odds On Monetary was under a line drive and cruised to a 1:55.3 win.
Remaining the top points and earnings leader for this age, sex and gait, Odds On Monetary ($3.80) is owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Travis Alexander.
There were also three $20,000 Excelsior Series races on the card. The winners were:
- Long Shore (American Ideal-Butchie Beach 1:56.2, $4.20), who was driven by Matt Kakaley andis trained by Joe Pavia Jr. for owners Vincent Ferriero Jr., Dominic Pavia, Eric Prevost and Todd Froncione.
- Onaorchardhunt (Huntsville-Park N Orchard 1:56.2, $3.30), who was driven by Tyler Buter and trained by Nifty Norman for owner Matthew Bassett.
- Patriot Miss (American Ideal-Big City Betty 1:56, $2.10), who was driven by Tyler Buter and trained by Rollie Mallar for owner Jeffrey Nanna.
Live racing at Batavia Downs resumes on Saturday (Aug. 16) with post time at 6 p.m.
Free full-card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at The Downs’ website under the “Live Racing” tab.