A $23,931 carryover and $75,000 guaranteed pool through the USTA Strategic Wagering Program for the Pick-5 at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 13) night generated $79,508 of new money, producing a $102,701 total pool that yielded the biggest mutuel payout ever in the 85-year history of Batavia Downs.
Author: by Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
USTA District 5 meeting recap
On Wednesday (Nov. 13), Chairperson Sam Lilly and Directors Casey Leonard, Jim Miller and Jim Reynolds hosted the annual District 5 meeting via Zoom.
Keg Stand victorious at Bally’s Dover
Keg Stand brushed first-over and powered to victory in the $25,000 Open Handicap Trot at Bally’s Dover on Tuesday night (Nov. 12).
Ordained, Prominence, Empty Nest win Pocono features
Trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt had heavy favorites in both $15,000 trotting features on the Tuesday (Nov. 12) card at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. One was coming off a victory against non-winners of two races while the other won his Breeders Crown elimination two starts back.
Melvin G wins fifth straight in DSBF prelim
Sent off the overwhelming 1-20 favorite, Melvin G rolled to a lifetime-best 1:57.2 score — his fifth win in a row — in the second of two $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund (DSBF) first-round preliminary divisions for 2-year-old male trotters on Tuesday (Nov. 12) at Bally’s Dover.
Luna Lovegood strolls to Matron triumph
After falling short in the finals of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series and Breeders Crown, Holly Lane Stud East Ltd.’s Luna Lovegood put it all together in the $116,100 Matron Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies at Bally’s Dover, coasting to a 1:53.2 win over Kendra.
Calicojack Hanover romps in Philly feature
The French-Canadian juggernaut of driver Daniel Dubé, trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination came blasting through Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 10) with the Captaintreacherous sophomore colt Calicojack Hanover winning the $13,500 handicap pacing feature in 1:51.4.
Quill, Sheridan win Freehold AHDC trots
Vagabond horseman Seamus Quill popped and pounced while Yogi Sheridan rallied late and in time to win their respective $7,500 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (Nov. 9).
Capacity Cumberland crowd honors Leigh Fitch
Family, friends and fans of Leigh Fitch swarmed the homestretch at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday (Nov. 9) following a $7,592 winners-over pace named in memory of the legendary Maine driver.
Coblentz trainees win five Sunshine Stakes splits
The Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association hosted week two of their five-week Florida Sunshine Stakes season on Saturday (Nov. 9). Once again, Nick Coblentz dominated the eight race program with five training wins, two of those in the driver’s seat himself and one benefitting from a disqualification.