Batavia, NY — Batavia Downs was the fourth different track that the recently-landed Australian import Mirragon A has competed over since starting his North American career in June, and he made his Saturday night (Aug. 19) appearance a victorious one with a 1:53 score in $15,000 Open I Handicap Pace.

Despite being assigned the outside in the field of six, Jim Morrill Jr. wasted no time pushing Mirragon A off the gate and to the lead, a position he controlled at the :27.2 quarter. With the field in single file, Mirragon A took the group to the half in :56.3 and three-quarters in 1:24.2 without any challenges to that point. But trouble was coming and his name was The Longest Yard (Kevin Cummings), who had pulled from fifth at the five-eighths and was making up ground quickly heading into the final turn. As they entered the stretch, Mirragon A was in control by 1-1/4 lengths and The Longest Yard was still over three lengths behind, but he persevered and kept closing the gap as the wire drew near. Not giving into the pressure, Mirragon A maintained his lead while holding off The Longest Yard and a late-charging Stranger Things (Shawn McDonough) to win by a neck.

Mirragon A outlasted a host of late challengers to win Saturday’s Open I Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs. Wendy J. Lowery photo.

It was the fourth win in only seven North American starts for Mirragon A ($13.00), who is owned by trainer Mike Deters in partnership with Joel Warner and John Manning.

Morrill ended the night with a driving grand slam after also winning with Rock N Blue (1:55.3, $2.30), Reggiano (1:56.3, $4.20) and Just A Wrangler (1:57, $3.20).

The $13,000 Open II Pace provided the biggest upset of the day when the overlooked Sporty Deal took full advantage of a class drop to score his sixth win of the year and reward his backers with a premium payout.

Sporty Deal (Keith Kash Jr.) was almost 10 lengths off at the quarter while Passa-Grille Beach (Ray Fisher Jr.) skated unabated through quarters of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:24.4. It was at that last station where Kash tipped Sporty Deal three-wide from sixth, circled the field, and took the lead just as they hit the turn. Kash high-lined Sporty Deal and tried to put some real estate between themselves and the competition, and it worked. Sporty Deal hit the stretch and paced away to a convincing 1:54.1 victory, which was a new seasonal mark.

L’Emmur Stable owns Sporty Deal ($43.20), who is trained by his driver.

Kash had a training and driving double as he also won with Starsnstripes GB (1:55.4, $7.10).

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 23) at 6 p.m., there will be a $5,601 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5, in the 13th race. Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Batavia Downs website.