Batavia, NY — Lauren’s Chapter (Chapter Seven-A Hopeful Prayer) stayed steady and on task, and that resulted in a big victory for her in the $119,700 New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (July 29) night.
Niko Karna settled Lauren’s Chapter in fourth as the heavily favored Sharp Seven (Jason Bartlett) took the lead from Who Dares Win (James Macdonald) passing the quarter in :28.4. Sharp Seven then reached the half in :58.1 and rounded turn two headed for the second circuit.
As the race went by five-eighths, Karna tipped Lauren’s Chapter into the breeze and the pair made their way up to second as they went by three-quarters. Positions remained unchanged until halfway through the final bend where Sharp Seven made a break and pulled to the outside of Lauren’s Chapter. Then almost immediately after, Who Dares Win made a break, and went inside the cones. This left Lauren’s Chapter all alone in the center of the track with the lead, who then cruised to the line where she won by 2-¼ lengths in 1:57, which was a new seasonal mark.
Lauren’s Chapter ($19.16) is owned by Patricia Stable and LAExpress, Sjoblom Racing and M. Dolan, Allister Stables and Caviart Farms and trained by Noel Daley. The filly was bred by Little E and Andy Miller Stable.
There were also two $20,000 NYSS Excelsior Series races on the card.
The first was won by Bar Hall Beauty (Met’s Hall-Bar Bar – Jason Bartlett/Nichols Devita – 1:58.1, $3.52) who is owned by David Hamm and Glenn Phillips and bred by Winbak Farms.
The second was one by Myths And Legends (Chapter Seven-Steamy Windows – James Macdonald/Marcus Melander – 1:57.3, $5.76) who is owned by S R F Stable and bred by Order By Stable Ab.
In overnight action, Drew Monti lit it up with five driving wins on the card, including a victory in the local featured $13,500 Open Handicap for fillies and mares with Elegant Woman A, who went right to the front and never looked back. After posting fractions of :28.1, :56.5 and 1:24.3, Elegant Woman A turned for home and held off Surfinmakescents A (Larry Stalbaum) by one-half length to win in 1:53.1 and establish a new career mark.
Elegant Woman A is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags, Jack Rice, her trainer Maria Rice and her driver, Drew Monti.
Monti also won with Rightfully Mine (1:55.2, $16.52), Passionate Pen (1:57, $5.26), Rattling Pine (1:59, $3.38) and Street Art (1:58.1, $27.94) to complete his quintet.
Dave McNeight Jr. had two training wins on Wednesday.
Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug 1) at 5 p.m.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia Downs can always be downloaded at the track’s website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab. And you can watch all the races live as they happen for free on the Batavia Downs YouTube page.