by Tim Bojarski, president, UNY-USHWA

Akron, NY — Dominance at the highest level is the mark of a true winner and that is why the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association, in association with Batavia Downs Casino, is proud to announce the best driver, trainer and horses for the 2010 Batavia Downs meeting.

Driver of the Meet: Kevin Cummings

The defending driving champion of the 2009 Batavia Downs Casino meet has successfully retained his crown. This year has seen Kevin Cummings score 105 victories and earn $509,000 in purses with a UDR of .321. If you throw in the fact he has hit the board 50 percent of the time the whole meet, you can see why he is tops among the driver colony again in 2010. Cummings rang up a career best $1.1 million in purses for the entire calendar year in 2009, but has managed to beat that total with $1.3 million this year, in about as many starts. Kevin is a trainer’s favorite for catch drives and a fan favorite at the windows. There is no one more respected as a driver locally than Kevin Cummings.

Trainer of the Meet: Sherri Holliday

Much like our driver of the meet, Sherri Holliday is defending the crown she won at Batavia Downs Casino in 2009. This two-time champion posted some gaudy numbers including 62 wins, $263,000 in purses and an outstanding UTR of .369. Not to mention her charges hit the board 51 percent of the time. With the addition of several new horses this summer, Holliday’s stable took off at the Batavia meet and never looked back. This was exemplified this past Saturday when her barn sent five winners postward with husband Ken doing the steering. Regardless of gait or class, Sherri Holliday has her horses ready to race each time they go postward. Holliday was also named the Western New York Trainer of the Year.

Trotter of the Meet: Fifty Two Finn

When owner/trainer Ron Stebbins decided to claim Fifty Two Finn at Tioga Downs back on September 10, little did he know that the horse that was having trouble getting a check at the Meadowlands would turn into a money machine at Batavia. Since coming to the Genesee County oval, Fifty Two Finn has scored six wins (all in Open Class company), a second and a third in 10 starts, and bankrolled $31,350. Capably driven by the recently red hot John Cummings, Jr. in all but one of his Batavia starts, Fifty Two Finn has taken on all comers in the track’s top trotting class and turned them away in a quick fashion. His fastest mile at Batavia was a 1:58.3 outing on Oct. 29 where he pulled away to a handy three length victory. His eight wins on the year ties his lifetime best output for victories in one year.

Pacer of the Meet: Two Twentytwo

Two Twentytwo was a promising, highly staked horse whose career was apparently cut short by an injury. In 2006 as a 2-year-old, Two Twentytwo won the $96,647 Champlain Stake and the $154,148 Nassagaweya Stake, both at Mohawk Raceway. He finished his 2-year-old campaign winning five of his last six starts. After two winning qualifying miles to start his 3-year-old campaign, he was being prepped for the $1.4 million North America Cup at Woodbine and was considered a favorite to win that race. After finishing fourth in the elimination (which went in 1:51.3) he was scratched prior to the final and his 3-year-old campaign came to a close. In 2008 he did regain some of his top form, taking a lifetime mark of 1:51.3 at Woodbine, but three starts later would see him lay off from racing for two years. After a lot of hard work and care, trainer Richie Mays brought him back to the track this spring and he has been one of the best Open pacers locally all year. Since the Batavia meet started, Two Twentytwo has won six times in 10 starts with two seconds and taking home purses of $40,005. He also set a season’s best time of 1.53.2 at Batavia on August 14. Domenic Colarusso, Jr. was the breeder of Two Twentytwo and has owned him his entire career.

Batavia Downs Promotions Specialist and Public Relations Director Todd Haight said about our winners: “We have some great horsemen racing at Batavia Downs Casino and Kevin Cummings and Sherri Holliday are an example of that. Their ability to get the most out of the horses they send to the gate is one of the reasons our races are so competitive.

“What can you say about our horses of the meet? Fifty Two Finn won six Open Trots; that’s unbelievable. It’s not too often the top class can be dominated like that. And the “Comeback Kid,” Two Twentytwo, did the same thing in the top pace; he dominated. He also won six Opens and finished second in our signature race, the Kane Memorial, getting beat only a head by Sailing Cruise in 1:52.4. He is just a great horse.”

Kevin Cummings, Sherri Holliday and the connections of Fifty Two Finn and Two Twentytwo will be on hand to receive their trophies in the winner’s circle this Saturday night (Dec. 4) during the “Night of Distinction” at Batavia Downs Casino.

For more information on all the 2010 Night of Distinction Awards and their recipients, log onto www.upstatenyushwa.com.