Author: by Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

It was a warm and wet Thursday afternoon (Feb. 9) at Batavia Downs, and despite the sun making a cameo appearance for a couple of races, the wet conditions may have contributed to only three favorites winning in 12 races on a day where big payouts were the norm.

Embrace The Grind set blistering early fractions on his way to a 1:53.1 win in Tuesday’s (Feb. 7) $25,000 Open Handicap Trot at Bally’s Dover.

Sam Widger, currently third in the dash standings at Miami Valley Raceway, had quite a day on Sunday (Feb. 5). The 59-year-old driver, with over 7,350 wins in his career, scored four wins in the span of five races, good for a whopping $44,500 in purse earnings. Included in Widger’s wins were the richest three races on the program.

Highland Mowgli lived up to odds-on billing in Tuesday’s (Jan. 31) $19,000 Winners Over/Select Handicap Trot at Bally’s Dover, turning in a punishing 4-1/4-length win over good going.

Following a powerful 1:51.3 win last week, Art Stafford Jr.’s Penzance Hanover outdid himself in Thursday’s (Jan. 26) $27,500 Blue Hen/Open Handicap Pace at Bally’s Dover, prevailing as the 2-1 favorite in 1:51.1 to notch back-to-back wins in the First State’s top class.

An Ohio Sires Stakes champion at three, Smothastenesewisky will look to continue her recent success in Saturday’s (Jan. 28) $18,000 Filly and Mare Open at MGM Northfield Park.

Creekside Pete sat the pocket and edged up the inside to defeat pacesetter Judge Bob to take the $13,000 trotting feature on Tuesday (Jan. 24) at Rosecroft in 1:55.3.