Batavia, NY — After making a break at the gate last week as the prohibitive off-time favorite, El Toro Loco showed a complete reversal of fortunes on Friday (Oct. 31) as he dominated his peers in the $10,000 Clas AA trotting feature at Batavia Downs — and once again as the public’s choice.
Joe Chindano Jr. sent El Toro Loco to the front and got everything his way after two early breakers left him only four horses to beat. Under a snug line and with no challengers at all, El Toro Loco cut quarters of :28.3, :59.3 and 1:28.4 before heading into the last turn with a 2-1/4-length lead. As he rounded the turn, El Toro Loco extended his lead to 3-1/4 at the top of the lane and then bolted to the line while Chindano sat chilly to win by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:58.3.
It was the ninth win of the year for El Toro Loco ($2.92), who is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith.
There were also two $8,800 Class A trots where both winners went gate to wire as heavy odds-on favorites.
In the first, My One Percent (Kyle Cummings) was a runaway winner by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:59.2 to score his fourth consecutive win. My One Percent ($4.44) is owned by his driver, Kyle Cummings, in partnership with Matthew Miller. Tammy Cummings trains the winner.
Then later, Spicy Hops (Kyle Swift) started from post 1 and finished in the same spot by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:01.1 to claim his seventh win of the year. Spicy Hops ($5.84) is owned by Gary Ballowe and Cassie Russo, who also trains the winner.
Drivers Joe Chindano Jr. and Drew Monti both scored triples in the bike while trainer Sam Smith led all conditioners with two wins on the card.
Live racing at Batavia Downs resumes on Saturday (Nov. 1) with post time at 6 p.m.; there will be a $1,037 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5, in the 12th race.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at The Downs’ website under the “Live Racing” tab. Then, you can watch all the races live as they happen for free on the Batavia Downs YouTube page.