Batavia, NY — For the second consecutive night of racing at Batavia Downs, driver Drew Monti chalked up another six winners — including a natural hat trick in races 4 through 6 — and swept the top two featured distaff paces, including the fastest mile recorded by a pacing mare at Batavia the entire year, all on Wednesday (Nov. 11).
That record mile came in the $10,400 Class A-B Handicap for fillies and mares, where the recently landed Australian import The Bride A totally dismantled a full field of eight in a gate-to-wire blowout.
Monti left from post 6 with The Bride A and was on top two pylons later before crossing over in the first turn. The Bride A was rolling and opened up 1-3/4 lengths at the :28 quarter as Windsun Charlotte (Dave McNeight III) tried to track from the pocket. As the race progressed, The Bride A continued to extend her lead. She went :27.1 to the half on top by 3 and :27.4 to three-quarters, where she stretched out to a 5-1/2-length lead with Monti in the grippers. The Bride A rounded the last bend all by herself and, when she entered the stretch, bolted to the line by 7-1/2 lengths and under wraps where she won in 1:52.1, taking a new lifetime mark.
It was the first North American start and win for The Bride A ($3.80), who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags and Adelphi Ventures together with trainer Maria Rice and driver Drew Monti.
Then, in the $14,800 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares, Monti won with Arizona, who scored her second consecutive Batavia Open victory since sojourning south from Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Arizona also left from post 6 and totally controlled the field once she cleared. With Lady Blue Jay (John Cummings Jr.) in chase, Arizona laid down quarters of :28, :57.4 and 1:26 while amassing a 3-length advantage heading into the last turn. When she reached the stretch, Arizona was on full cruise and won in 1:54.4.
It was the fifth win of the year for Arizona ($8.58), who is owned by Wendy Timpano and Herman Bardoel and trained by Mike Timpano.
Missys Magic Man (2:00.1, $2.40), Silverhill Blaze (1:55.2, $4.96), Luckystair (1:54.4, $9.64) and Rattling Pine (1:59.1, $2.48) completed Monti’s half dozen victories. Monti also has a second and two thirds from his 10 starts on Wednesday, giving him a stout .722 UDR for the evening.
There were three huge win mutuels on Wednesday. Alexa’s Sunshine (1:57.3, Chase Russo) paid $79.58, Frank’s Watching (1:58.3, Ray Fisher Jr.) paid $70.90, and Dear Abbey (1:56.3, Chase Russo) paid $36.14.
Live racing at Batavia Downs will resume on Thursday (Nov. 12) at 5 p.m.; there will be a $654 carryover in the Pick-5 (races 1-5) with a guaranteed pool of $2,500 through the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program. There will also be a $33,413 carryover in the Jackpot Super High-5 in the 11th race.
Free full-card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia Downs can always be downloaded at the track’s website under the “Live Racing” tab.