by Todd Haight, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Getting away where he likes to be, in the pocket, Michael Tompkins and Sandra Stoddard’s Road Knight got up in the final strides to win the featured $9,200 Open II Pace on Saturday night (Nov. 25) at Batavia Downs Gaming.

Batavia Downs Gaming photo

Road Knight gets up on the outside to win Saturday’s feature.

Starting from post five, Road Knight, with Jack Flanigen, quickly made the lead but yielded to Yorkem N with Jim Morrill, Jr., who was on the move but still hadn’t cleared after a quarter in :28.2.

Grabbing the racetrack, Yorkem N took the field of eight to the half in :57.3 and remained unchallenged as he went by three-quarters in 1:26.4 over a fast track on a rather balmy night for Western New York standards this time of year.

Coming off the turn Yorkem N and Morrill appeared to be on their way with an under the whip Road Knight angling out for the drive in second. The closers were not making any impact as a first-over Carolina Major was clogging up the outer tier.

Down the lane Road Knight and Flanigen began to get to Yorkem N and in the final strides nailed him at the line, pacing in 1:55.4, which was a new lifetime mark for Road Knight. Primus Sammy, with Kevin Cummings, never left the pylons until the stretch and ended up a non-threatening third.

A 5-year-old son of On The Road Again, Road Knight scored for the eighth time this season, raising his seasonal earnings to over $43,000. Mike Tompkins trains Road Knight, who paid $24.60 to win.

It was fitting that Hall of Famer Buddy Gilmour, the driver of On The Road Again, was in attendance at the Downs on Saturday night.

Dangerous Duo

Driver Jim Morrill, Jr., who has been on a tear as of late, and leading trainer Paul Szalay, Jr. teamed up for five more winners Saturday night.

Since last Saturday night, Morrill, the meet’s leading reinsman, has won 23 races, winning at well over 50%. On the training side Paul Szalay, Jr. has all but locked up the training title, as he is currently winning at close to 30%.

Three racing programs left in 2006 season

Only three more racing programs remain in the 2006 season at Batavia Downs Gaming. Racing fans are reminded that there will be no racing this Wednesday, November 29, which was on the original schedule. That day has been replaced with a special matinee card of racing on December 2, with post time scheduled for 1:15 p.m.