Wanna Rock N Roll takes top mares at Batavia Downs
December 10, 2016,by Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
Batavia, NY — As squalls streamed off of Lake Ontario, it was like racing in a snow globe at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Dec. 9). But despite the inclement weather, Wanna Rock N Roll delivered like the mailman and won the featured $9,500 race as a result.
Paul White photo
Wanna Rock N Roll wins for the second week at Batavia Downs on Friday evening.
Wanna Rock N Roll (Drew Monti) took a quick early lead before releasing that spot to the charging Aritzia Hanover (Ben McNeil) at the quarter-mile. The field remained in single-file style to the half-mile when Susie’s Delight (Ray Fisher Jr.) pulled first-over with Who Says That (Shawn Gray) on her tail.
Racing up the backstretch, McNeil popped the plugs on Aritzia Hanover and accelerated the pace, causing the outer flow to stall as they passed three-quarters in 1:26.4. That uncovered the pocket-sitting Wanna Rock N Roll who was primed to strike at the top of the lane, and that’s just what she did. Monti tugged the right line and began methodical urging and the mare responded in kind, pacing right by Aritzia Hanover in 1:55.4 while Monti tucked the whip.
It was the second straight top distaff class victory for Wanna Rock N Roll ($5.20) and her ninth win overall in 2016 and it inflated her earnings for the year to $66,720. Rose Campbell owns the 5-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover, who is trained by Steve Kiblin.
In the co-featured $8,500 Open trot, Kahoku ($9.00) overcame the dreaded eight-hole to gain an easy coast-to-coast victory in 1:58.2 with Ron Beback Jr. in the bike.
Kahoku now has 13 wins this year and $82,415 in earnings for owner Colleen Girdlestone and trainer Mark Laidlaw.
Drew Monti had hot hands on the cold Friday night, winning three races on the card. After that, doubles were the norm. Shawn Gray and Ray Fisher Jr. both had two driving wins while Steve Kiblin and Jeff Amann each watched two of their students get pictures taken.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Dec. 10) with post time for the first race set at 6:15 p.m.