by Todd Haight, marketing coordinator, Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — The $1 million-plus stakes season continues Wednesday night, September 17, at Batavia Downs Gaming, with two $10,800 New York bred Late Closers for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

A total of 16 distaffers will race in two divisions, races five and nine.

In the first division, the Purple Haze Stables’ Princess Hall starts out as the morning line favorite. The Conway Hall-Caroline Lobell filly comes off a second place finish at Yonkers last time out. Howie Okusko, Jr., who will be in town to compete in the $10,000 All-Star driver’s challenge, will be in the sulky for trainer Jessica Okusko. Princess Hall has 2008 earnings of over $29,000.

The main competition should come from La Dolce, a Conway Hall-Madonarail filly with ‘08 earnings of $55,000. Kevin Cummings will team for trainer Kevin Johnson. La Dolce has finished second in her last three starts including two seconds against New York Sire Stakes competition. She is owned by Robert Burgess, Karin Olsson-Burgess and Fred Goldi.

The second division for the trotting fillies is extremely contentious. Coming off a wire-to-wire score at Yonkers, the daughter of Conway Hall-J’onetta, Princessofhollywd, may take some catching for reinsman Josh Marks. A four-time winner this season for owner Ken Jacobs and trainer Bob Bloodgood, she’s earned over $48,000 in 2008.

Vindikate (CR Excalibur-Sweet Smoke) flashed a high turn of foot when she went from last to first to score in a lifetime best of 2:02.2 last time out at Yonkers for former Downs regular Jeff Gregory. Joe and Joann Thomson lease Vindikate and she’s trained by Ray Allen. Jim McNeight in be in the sulky.

Others to watch in this division include Winbak Half (Joe Nassimos), a winner last time out at Yonkers, and Gotta Luv It (Kevin Cummings), the highest money earner ($50,453) in the field.

On Saturday night, September 20, the 2-year-old pacing fillies get their turn in more New York Bred Late Closers. Post time as always is 7:05 p.m.