Batavia, NY – The 2025 edition of the $100,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace produced the most exciting finish and fastest final time in the history of the race after Captain Albano out-muscled Desperate Man in the stretch and won in 1:50.1, setting a new all-time pacing record at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 23) night.
Last year’s Kane winner, Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley), shot to the front and set aggressive fractions of :26.4 and :55 to the half as Captain Albano (Tyler Buter) watched the proceedings from third to that point. As the race made its way onto the second circuit, Buter tipped Captain Albano and marched toward the leader while Buzzsaw Russ (Jason Bartlett) followed his cover.
Captain Albano got to second and then ducked in behind Desperate Man as he picked up the pace in the third quarter with a :27.2 panel. After rounding the last bend, Desperate Man entered the stretch with a 1-1/2 length lead and was still pacing strong. But when Buter pulled Captain Albano to go on the attack, he immediately drew alongside Desperate Man. And then after the two millionaires matched strides down the lane, Captain Albano opened up by 1-1/2 lengths in deep stretch to win in 1:50.1. Buzzsaw Russ was third.
The time broke the Batavia Downs all-time track pacing record of 1:50.2 set by American Dealer N in the 2022 Kane.
It was the 22nd lifetime win in only 34 lifetime starts for the 4-year-old Captain Albano ($2.70), who has now earned $1.76 million for owners Patricia Stable, L A Express and Sjoblom Inc., Sjoblom Racing and Michael Dolan. The Dan Patch 2- and 3-year-old male pacing champion is trained by Noel Daley.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 27) with post time at 6 p.m.