by Brian J. Mazurek, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Labor Day is known as the unofficial end of summer and Batavia Downs is going to celebrate the holiday in a huge way with some exciting New York Sire Stakes and Excelsior Series action along with great promotions on Monday afternoon (Sept. 2).

The highlight of the 13-race card that begins at 1:15 p.m. are two $50,000 divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old colt trotters. Besides attracting some up and coming freshman trotting stars, it also brings in some top-notch drivers including Jim Morrill, Jr., Cat Manzi and former Western New York regulars Jeff Gregory and John Stark, Jr. There will also be four $12,600 legs of the Excelsior Series for the 2-year-old trotting colts and the weekly $8,500 Open Trot.

The first race $50,000 Sire Stakes will be the opener on the program with JS Trotting Bob (CR Excalibur-CR Mimosa) heading the select field of five. JS Trotting Bob is fresh off a victory in a $141,787 division of the Sires Stakes in 1:59 at Yonkers Raceway on Aug. 20. It was his first start in the Sire Stakes after competing in the Excelsior and he handled the tougher challenge. JS Trotting Bob also has posted a 1:56.3 mark at Vernon Downs on Aug. 8 in the Excelsior Series and comes to town on a two-race win streak.

JS Trotting Bob has been installed as the 6-5 favorite with Morrill scheduled to be in the sulky. He has won five of six career races and has $82,059 in earnings. He will score from the four spot.

His main competition should come from Daley Lovin. He has a victory in a $53,562 leg in a Sire Stakes race at Vernon Downs on Aug. 8 in 1:56.3 and was third behind JS Trotting Bob, when forced to race first-over, at Yonkers on Aug. 20. Dan Daley trains and drives the Conway Hall-Dreamsrmadeofthis colt who has bankrolled $58,443 thus far in 2013.

The seventh race will also have a field of five going for the $50,000 Sire Stakes purse. Flyhawk El Durado is the 2-1 morning line choice out of the two-hole with Morrill in the bike. Flyhawk El Durado (Conway Hall-El Paso Gal) took a victory in a $141,787 Sire Stakes event at Yonkers on Aug. 20 in 1:59.4 and has won three races in six career appearances. He has $120,669 in the bank and is conditioned by Mark Ford.

Lukas Hall (Conway Hall-Goddess Of War) has two Sire Stakes victories this season and will start from the three spot for Hall of Fame driver Cat Manzi. Lukas Hall, 3-1 on the morning line, scored a 1:55 win at Vernon Downs on Aug. 8 and also scored at Tioga Downs in 1:56.3 on July 26. He has been in the money in five of six starts and has $79,895 in winnings.

There will also be great food specials all day long with a ‘Buy 1, Get 1 Free’ chicken BBQ buffet for $9.95 (with coupon) in the clubhouse from 12 noon to 3 p.m. There will also be $1 Sahlen hot dogs, sodas and draft beer offered in the Paddock Room beginning at 12 noon.

For more information on the Labor Day activities, or to view race replays, upcoming promotions or read the latest news, go to bataviadownscasino.com/live-racing.