Batavia, NY — Two top-class Open races — one on the trot and one on the pace — were carded on Friday night (Sept. 6) at Batavia Downs, and Lougazi and Miss Mary Mach provided very exciting finishes in their respective contests.

It’s been four weeks since Lougazi came away a winner, but that all changed Friday in the $12,500 Open I Handicap Trot.

Lougazi rallied to victory in Friday’s Open I Handicap Trot at Batavia Downs.

CR Blazin Beauty (John Cummings Jr.) took her usual spot on the lead while Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) tucked in sixth off the gate. After single-file following occurred for the first three-eighths, Joey Pro (Shawn McDonough) came first-up from third and Lougazi was obliged to follow.

Rolling up the backside, CR Blazin Beauty continued to set the tone, but Joey Pro had enough. That meant Fisher tipped Lougazi three-deep and had him in full flight around the far turn. As they came down the lane, Lougazi matched strides with CR Blazin Beauty before clearing in mid-stretch. From there, Fisher fist-pumped while Lougazi crossed the wire first in 1:56.2, which was a new lifetime mark.

It was the sixth win of 2019 for Lougazi ($5.90) and it raised his earnings to $62,250 for the year for owner Mary Warriner. Ryan Swift trains the winner.

Then in the $12,500 Open I Handicap for distaff pacers, Miss Mary Mach entered the double-digit win category after an exhilarating stretch drive to victory.

Miss Mary Mach overcame traffic trouble to prevail in the night’s top distaff pace. Paul White photos.

It was the tale of two strategies. HP Sissy (John Cummings Jr.) bolted for the front while Miss Mary Mach (Jim Morrill Jr.) got away last. HP Sissy paced along easily in :27.4, :56.2 and 1:24.4 with no one giving her grief. At the three-quarters, Miss Mary Mach was still last — and boxed in as well without much of a shot to get out.

As the race came off the final bend, the horses outside of Miss Mary Mach faded and she finally had some room to roam. However, HP Sissy was still four lengths ahead with only an eighth of a mile to go. Morrill had the plugs popped and was working hard in the sulky, but Miss Mary Mach was working hard on her own as she paced up a storm in the stretch and nosed out HP Sissy under the wire in 1:54.2.

It was the 10th win of the year for Miss Mary Mach ($5.00) and pushed her seasonal earnings to $81,887. Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi own the 4-year-old daughter of Mach Three and Mary Artman who is trained by James Clouser Jr.

Several horsemen had very productive nights at Batavia on Friday.

Wade Tomaszewski, Jim Morrill Jr. and Billy Davis Jr. had driving triples. On the training side, James Clouser Jr. had three from his stable visit the winner’s circle while Chris Naedele and Steve Kiblin each won two.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 7) with a 6:00 p.m. post time.