Batavia, NY — Heavy oscillating snow squalls that fell throughout the card and temperatures that hovered around 15 degrees provided the conditions to be dealt with for those racing at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Jan. 15). But despite the inclement weather, there were many impressive performances on display during the program, including by one of the leading drivers in North America.
Brett Beckwith was in from Saratoga for the day and headed back east with five win checks in his pocket, including a natural hat trick in the final three races of the day. Beckwith won with Timeto Communicate (2:02, $2.74), Mcvera (2:02, $6.36), Woodmere Alvin (1:59, $8.32), Machaholic (2:02.3, $5.84) and Beacon Beach.
Beacon Beach won the co-featured $12,500 Open I-II Handicap Trot in gate-to-wire fashion. Beckwith took command with Beacon Beach from a pylon start, cut quarters of :29.1, 1:00.2 and 1:30.4 before rounding the last bend, and comfortably closed out the deal by 1-3/4 lengths in 2:00.1.
Beacon Beach ($5.02) is owned by El Dorado Stables and trained by Sam Smith.
In the co-featured $12,500 Open Handicap Pace, Hunter Hill (Drew Monti) won the hard way after getting parked every step of the mile before pulling away in the lane.
It was a five-horse, three-deep scramble for the lead off the gate before things straightened out up the backstretch. Davey Day Trader (Kyle Swift) eventually settled on the lead passing the quarter in :27.4 while all the other leavers dropped into open spots. That is, except for Hunter Hill, who was out swinging in the breeze fifth as they came off turn two to pass the stands the first time. Davey Day Trader got to the half in :58.1 while Hunter Hill made his way to second on the outside as the race proceeded on to five-eighths.
Hunter Hill drew alongside Davey Day Trader approaching three-quarters, and the pair was joined by Stranger Things (Shawn McDonough), who had swung three-deep and was flying. As the trio made their way around the turn, Hunter Hill began to separate from the others and was clear by a length as he straightened for home. And from there, Hunter Hill swelled up under a line drive and broke the beam ahead by two lengths in 1:58.1.
Hunter Hill ($6.98) is owned and trained by Scott West.
Hunter Hill was the first of three consecutive wins for Monti, who followed it up with “dubs” by Kb’ssweetcaroline (2:01, $2.92) and Rock Me Always (1:59.1, $9.80), who are both owned by El Dorado Stable and Mike Torcello.
Rock Me Always is trained by Mae Smith, who also won with Tymal Envoy (2:01.2, $4.54) and the aforementioned Machaholic, giving her a hat trick of her own to lead all conditioners for wins on Thursday.
Live racing at Batavia Downs will resume on Tuesday (Jan. 20) at 3 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. Then, you can watch all the races live as they happen for free on the Batavia Downs YouTube page.