Batavia, NY – Despite being parked out three-deep to the half, Duke Lavictoire went on to win the $12,500 Open Handicap trot with authority and set a new track record for aged trotting geldings at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Oct. 4) night.
Off the gate, I Got The Looks (Dan Yetman), Crazy Ritz (Jim McNeight Jr.) and Duke Lavictoire (Jim Morrill Jr.), who was widest of all, were spread three across the track through quarters of :27.1 and :55.3 before Duke Lavictoire finally crossed over to the lead and settled in for the second circuit.
But there was no rest for the weary heading up the backstretch as Valentine Express (Joe Chindano Jr.) was out and moving at five-eighths and drew alongside Duke Lavictoire before three-quarters. The two trotters matched strides around the last turn and into the stretch, where Duke Lavictoire turned back a valiant effort from Valentine Express and remained in control all the way to the line where he won by a length in 1:55.
The time was a new seasonal mark for the winner and replaced the old track record of 1:55.1 set by Dewey Arnold in 2022.
Duke Lavictoire ($5.80) is owned by his trainer, Brett Derue, in partnership with Stephen Picarazzi and Darreyl Bullard.
Brett Derue is the hottest trainer currently competing at The Downs. Since he started shuttling stock to Genesee County from his Saratoga base, he has sent 15 winners to post from 41 starters, as well as registering six seconds and five thirds, giving him a 37% win percentage and a stellar UTR of .488. His road horses now have earnings in excess of $100,000 ($100,807).
There was also a $12,500 Open Handicap pace on the card Saturday that was won by Lanjo Lee in gate to wire fashion.
Kyle Cummings pushed Lanjo Lee off the gate to the front and made every pole a winning one. He cut quarters of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:24.3 while leading by 1-½ lengths before he rounded the last bend and scooted home clear by three-quarters of a length over the off-time favorite Lyons Surfing (Kyle Swift) to win in 1:52.4, which tied his seasonal mark.
It was the seventh win of the year for Lanjo Lee ($9.96) who is owned by Gordon Swift and trained by Jeff Sorenson.
Driving hat tricks were turned in by both feature winners, Jim Morrill Jr. and Kyle Cummings, as well as trainer Sam Smith.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 8) with post time at 6 p.m. and there will be a carryover of $1,256 in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 13th race.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at The Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab. Then you can watch all the races live as they happen for free on the Batavia Downs YouTube page.