by Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Batavia, NY — Despite winning the distaff featureat Batavia Downs last week, Kruella was overlooked this week in lieu of twoship-in entries from Vernon Downs. But after a furious stretch drive late,Kruella sent the interlopers packing as she won the $9,500 fillies and maresOpen pace at Batavia on Wednesday night (Aug. 2).

The heavily favored Vernon invader LittleSantamonica (Shawn McDonough) out-left Vernon cohort All Charged Up (LarryStalbaum) off the gate and went right for the lead, rushing the girls to a:27.3 quarter. With the field standing pat behind her, McDonough backed thehalf off to :57.1 and it looked like everything was going their way.

As the race went up the backstretch, All Charged Uppulled from second and was followed by Susie’s Delight (Ray Fisher Jr.) andKruella (Kevin Cummings). The outer flow continued to advance around the turnand drew even with the front-runner at the top of the stretch. At that pointCummings tipped Kruella three-deep but was still three-lengths off the leader.With five horses spread across the track and all the drivers applying heavyurging, Kruella closed like a jet on the grandstand side and proved to be thebest, winning by a length in 1:54.2.

It was the third win in a row and of the year forKruella ($14.60), who registered a new lifetime mark with the 1:54.2 clocking.The 5-year-old daughter of American Ideal and Villa Hanover is owned by TwoGals Stable LLC and is trained by Jineen Simone.

In the $8,500 fillies and mares Open II, Jolt Of Jo(Dave McNeight III) got a perfect two-hole trip behind Voltina (John CummingsJr.) before popping the pocket at the top of the lane and pacing away to alength victory in 1:54.4, which was a new lifetime mark for the winner.

Jolt Of Jo ($26.60) is owned by R. Lewis Hauber andis trained by Jim Graham.

Larry Stalbaum had a driving triple as ShawnMcDonough won the last two races on the card. Trainer Kim Asher also had threewins on the night.

With a silent auction, patron contributions andhorsemen donating their win percentages from the night, the fundraiser for theBreast Cancer Coalition of Rochester was able to raise in excess of $9,500.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Aug. 4)with post time set at 6 p.m.