by Todd Haight, marketing coordinator, Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables’ Foiled Again headlines the field in the seventh annual $40,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace to be held Saturday night (Oct. 10) at Batavia Downs Casino.

This year’s edition shapes up as one of the fastest fields of pacers ever assembled at America’s oldest lighted harness track. The eight horses that will go behind the starting gate for the seventh race have combined lifetime earnings of more than $4.3 million. The field includes three pacers with lifetime marks of under 1:50 and one millionaire. Probable post time is 8:55 p.m.

Foiled Again, who drew the rail, ships to Western New York off a 1:50.2, wire-to-wire score at Harrah’s Chester. He’s earned $538,000 this season. His major wins this season include the George Morton Levy at Yonkers and the Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park. Matt Kakaley will be in town to do the teaming for trainer Ron Burke. Foiled Again is a 5-year-old son of Dragon Again.

Special Report, a hard hitting 7-year-old gelding by Keystone Raider, starts from post three for trainer Kim Asher and driver Larry Stalbaum. Special Report’s $1.3 million in career earnings leads the field. He’s earned more than $221,000 this season for owner Hugo Iodice.

Bulletproof Enterprises’ Riggins will start from post seven for driver Jack Rice and conditioner Tracy Brainard. The talented 4-year-old colt by Art Major is a winner at the Meadowlands this season in 1:48.4. His 2009 earnings stand at $240,000. He’s performed well at several different racetracks this season.

The rest of the field includes #2 Mizuno, #4 Eagle Real One, #5 The Awful Truth, #6 Lislea Moran and #8 Scotts Rolls Royce.

Last year, Kenneth J, with Jim Morrill, Jr. in the bike, won the Kane Memorial and established a new track record of 1:52. If the weather co-operates the track record could be in serious jeopardy.

The Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace is named for the former chairman of the board at Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation, owner of Batavia Downs Casino.

Brian Schroeder Memorial Trot

Yonkers track record holder Baby Boy Grin looks like the horse to beat in the third annual $10,000 Brian Schroeder Memorial Trot, which will be contested as the fifth race on Saturday’s super card.

A private purchase earlier this season, Bay Boy Grin lowered Yonkers Raceway’s all-age track record on September 24, when he trotted to an 8-1/4 length score in a sizzling 1:54.4 with Larry Stalbaum at the controls for trainer Kim Asher.

Earl’s 1:56 trotting track record, established in 1993, could also be in jeopardy.

Baby Boy Grin, a pacing-bred 4-year-old Grinfromeartoear gelding, opens at 2-1 on the morning line.

Scorpion Moon, who finished second behind Baby Boy Grin four nights ago at Pocono Downs, looks to turn the tables with Jack Rice picking up the catch drive for trainer Tracy Brainard.

Brian Schroeder was a trainer/driver on the Western New York circuit for many years. He was particularly successful in developing young trotters.