by Jeff Rizzo, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Another exciting installment of New York Sire Stakes Late Closers was in town on Wednesday evening, August 20, at Batavia Downs with four races having purses in excess of $10,000. This edition was for the 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters and driver Keith Ball won two of the night’s four races.

Paul White photo

Montanajamesbond was one of two winning drives in NYSS Late Closer action for Keith Ball.

The first stakes race of the evening was the second race on the card with a purse of $10,700. With an excellent mile of 2:01.4, the winner was Montanajamesbond with Keith Ball at the lines.

With quarter times of :31, 1:02.3, and 1:32.2, Montanajamesbond jumped to the lead early and kept it until Ackbro Crazylegs (John Cummings, Jr.) gave him a run for his money just around the three-quarter pole. Shortly before the stretch, Montanajamesbond turned on the jets and trotted away to win by 3-1/2 lengths. Coming in for the place was Kevin Cummings and Giant Villian. With the show was Ackbro Crazylegs.

Montanajamesbond is a gelding by CR Excalibur-Shooting Star, and he is owned by Alan Hainsworth, Keith Ball, and Kenneth Ball, the trainer. The winning mutuel price for the second race was $3.20.

The fourth race on the card and the second stakes race of the night was all Rivers Edge Jim, a colt by River’s Edge-Craigie Brae Lady. Douglas Ackley was in the driver’s seat for the wire-to-wire win with a time of 2:05.3 and quarter times of :32.1, 1:04.3, and 1:35.

Rivers Edge Jim had a comfortable lead heading to the half-mile mark but then gradually pulled farther away to be victorious by eight lengths. In for the place was All Time Hit with Mark Whitcroft, while the morning line favorite Neptune T and Ed Dunnigan finished with the show after recovering from an early miscue.

Rivers Edge Jim is owned and trained by Steven Pratt along with James Ackley. The winning price of the second stakes race was $3.10.

The third stakes race of the evening and the seventh race on the program featured a small field of only five. Doing the mile in 2:01.4 was Uncle Ben and driver Keith Ball, with his second Late Closing win on the night.

Uncle Ben took the lead from Paradise Magoo shortly after the three-quarter pole and hung on for the win by a neck. The quarter times were :30.2, 1:02.1, and 1:32. Getting the place was Four Starz Conway with Kevin Cummings, while Paradise Magoo and Jim McNeight were in a dead heat with Step Up and Kevin Gould for the show.

Uncle Ben is a gelding by CR Excalibur-Minute Rice. This was the second win of the night for owners Alan Hainsworth, Keith Ball, and trainer Ken Ball. The winning mutuel price was $4.40 for Uncle Ben.

The final stakes race of the evening was the tenth race on the card. The wire-to-wire winner was Austins Jon Jon in an excellent mile of 2:02.4. Dan Yetman was in the driver’s seat.

Austins Jon Jon had to fend off Manfromnantucket and Kevin Cummings at the three-quarter pole, but Yetman drove on and pulled away down the stretch. Fasterthanabullet and Jim McNeight came on for the place while Manfromnantucket faded back to third. The quarter times were :31.1, 1:02, and 1:31.4.

Austin’s Jon Jon is a gelding by Giant Hit-Miss Dial Tone, and he is owned by Daniel Henry Sr. and trained by Octavia Rappoport. The winning price for the final stakes race was $8.70.

The feature race was an open pace for fillies and mares with a purse of $8,800. With much excitement and the lead changing frequently throughout the mile, Devils Delight came out on top in a photo finish with Shaniaraider (Ken Holliday) in 1:57. The quarter times were :28.2, :58.1, and 1:27.4.

Jim McNeight, who had a driving double on the evening, drove Devils Delight to the victory. The 6-year-old mare by D M Dillinger is owned by Ron Viola, David Venniro, and James Graham, the trainer. The winning price was $15.20.

Late Closers return on Friday

New York Sire Stakes Late Closer action returns to Batavia Downs Gaming this Friday evening (August 22). On the card for Friday are three late closer events for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers. The first and the fifth race, both late closer races, have a purse of $10,700, while the third stakes race and the tenth race on the card has a purse of $10,600.

The first stakes race of the evening is the first race on the card, with Seattle Moon coming in as the morning line favorite at 5-2. Trainer John Stark, Jr. will be at the lines. This colt, by Riverboat King-Romancing The Sea, has only one non-qualifying race to his credit; however, he looks to do well coming from Saratoga. Winbak Farm owns him.

Showing early odds of 5-2 in the second stakes race on the night and the fifth race on the card is Touch Of The Past with Ray Fisher, Jr. driving. This 2-year-old Village Jove-My Place colt has been competing very well on the county fair circuit with four wins. He also has a NYSS appearance at Saratoga with a seventh-place finish. Rocco Manzi and Paul Tandmayer are the owners, and Lonny Hale trains him.

The third and final stakes race of the evening will be the ninth race, with Outa My Head, a Bettor’s Delight-Beamer colt as the favorite at 5-2. John Stark, Jr. will drive. With four lifetime races he has one win to his credit. He is owned by Linwood Higgins, William Donovan, and Kelley Racing Stable. Paul Kelley trains him.

This set of Late Closers promises to be exciting as the $1 million stakes season at America’s Oldest Lighted Harness Track continues. Post time is 7:05 p.m.