Batavia, NY — The weekly $12,500 Opens for the best pacers and trotters on the grounds were once again held on Saturday (Nov. 8) night and the winner of both was piloted by the track’s leading dash driver, Drew Monti.
The pacers lined up first in their Open Handicap contest and Lip Reader A led at every station en route to his victory.
Davey Day Trader (Dave McNeight III) took an early lead, but Lip Reader A pulled from third, claimed the lead and never looked back. After stopping the clock in :28.2, :57.4 and 1:25.4 while leading by over a length at each quarter, Lip Reader A skated around the last bend and skated for home under a line drive by Monti to win in 1:54.
It was the third win in the last five starts and ninth win overall this year for Lip Reader A ($4.96), who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing and trained by Maria Rice.
Then later in the Open Handicap trot, Gone Crazee made one move after the half to win a close one.
Gone Crazee got away third as Dougadougadew (Kyle Cummings) and Biscoe (Jim McNeight Jr.) traded leads heading to the quarter that Biscoe stopped the timer in :30.1. Biscoe then mosied to the half in :59.2 when Monti tipped Gone Crazee and started to move forward in turn three. Gone Crazee took the lead from Biscoe at three-quarters but couldn’t cross-over, so the pair matched strides around the last turn. Then Dougadougadew tipped three-high just as they turned for home and it turned into a real horse race. Gone Crazee still had the lead and put Biscoe away, but he had to fend off Dougadougadew all the way to the line, where he won by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.1.
It was also the ninth win of the year for Gone Crazee ($12.00), who is owned by Marie Houghtaling and trained by Ron Houghtaling.
Monti also won with Timeto Communicate (1:59.1, $4.14) in the third race, giving him a hat trick for the night.
Driver Kevin Cummings also posted a natural hat trick in races four through six. Cummings won with I Ain’t No Mack (1:54.4, $6.72), Soul Assassin (1:55.3, $4.18) and Bettor Of The West (1:56.1, $12.30).
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 12) with post time at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a $2,098 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the 12th race.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at The Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab. Then you can watch all the races live as they happen for free on the Batavia Downs YouTube page.