by Todd Haight, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY —Jim Morrill Jr. went a perfect 4 for 4 in New York Sire Stake late closers held Friday night at Batavia Downs Gaming. The former Meadowlands regular had quite an evening as he drove a total of seven winners on the 12 race card which included one non-betting race that was contested before the first official race.

Batavia Downs photo

Kabrash, a son of Kassa Branca, took the non-betting race in wire to wire fashion, pacing the mile in 1:57.3.

Kabrash, a son of Kassa Branca, took the non-betting race in wire to wire fashion pacing the mile in 1:57.3, which included a last half of 57.3. Howard Okusko Jr. trains the winner for owners Richard Stieglitz of New York.

Race one on the Friday night card was the second NY Late Closer of the evening. This time driving One More Day, Morrill decided when the gates opened that the front-end was the place to be and that’s exactly where he put the 3-year-old colt by Kassa Branca. He made the lead at the quarter and coasted to the line by 4 lengths for owners D.A. and G.A Willis. Claude Huckabone III does the training. Pacing in 1:58.4, One More Day returned $3.60.

The third NY Late Closer was contested as race four. This time Morrill was on a colt with no gate speed. As the field approached the half the 3-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight, You Bet Your Glass, was so far back it didn’t look he had a chance of landing in the top three let alone winning. Some 14 lengths off the lead at the half, You Bet Your Glass made his move up the backside. He was still six lengths behind at three quarters but he was rolling, rolling fast enough to get up by an open length in 1:59 flat. C.R. Nitkowski and A.B. Marks are the owners. Arnold Marks is the trainer. You Bet Your Glass paid $3.40 to win.

The fourth and final NY Late Closer was race nine. This time it was a son of Three Wizzards who got to the finish line first. Rodeo Man and Morrill enjoyed a perfect two-hole trip, angling out at the top of the stretch to win by a length in 1:58.3. Owned by Purple Haze Stables and trained by Howie Okusko Jr., Rodeo Man returned $4.70.

Jim Morrill Jr.’s other three wins on the card came aboard Fast Attack ($3.60) in the fifth race, Cade Callihan ($7.50) in the sixth and Score ($6.00) in the featured seventh race, the $10,000 Open Trot.

Hot Picks were just that

The free tip sheet in the racing program called Hot Picks had a big night as well, picking 8 winners on top. In race three, Hot Picks picked the trifecta cold which returned over $200. Hot Picks are available every racing day in the Batavia Downs program, The Western OTB Batavia program and in the sports section of the Batavia Daily News.

Looking Ahead

Great racing is on tap all weekend long. Saturday the 2-year-old colts and geldings go at it in New York Sire Stakes action with four divisions worth over $36,000. The track record set last year by Pandrogynous of 1:56.1 could be in jeopardy. Stephane Bouchard, John Stark Jr. and Patrick LaChance, the son of Mike LaChance a Batavia Downs regular in the mid-sixties, are in town to drive.

On Sunday, the 3-year-old pacing fillies are in town for more New York Sire Stakes action. Five divisions will be contested for purses of over $44,000 each. In town to drive are Jeff Gregory and former Downs’ regulars Don Rothfuss and Sam Schillaci. The twelve-race program gets underway on Sunday at 1:15 p.m.

On Wednesday night once again the 2-year-old pacing fillies will be back at the Downs for their second go around in more New York Sire Stakes racing. The fillies were here on August 19 as Batavia Downs played host for Yonkers Raceway which is currently closed. New track record holder JK Let It Ride, who established the new mark of 1:56.3 on August 19, is scheduled to go in the ninth race. Along with superstar Jim Morrill another superstar of the sport, Luc Ouellette will be in to drive.