by Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Batavia, NY — Wednesday night (Sept. 28) was areturn to form for My Tallia Ideal when she came from off the pace to take thelead and fend off a late challenge to capture the featured $9,500 mares Openpace at Batavia Downs.

Kaitlyn Akeeper (Jim Morrill Jr.) left for the leadaround Memumsnotnice (Kevin Cummings) while My Tallia Ideal (Dave McNeight III)went from fifth to third and tucked. Positions remained unchanged throughfractions of :27.2 and :56.2 when My Tallia Ideal pulled first-over past theclubhouse with Who Says That (Shawn Gray) on her back.

My Tallia Ideal eventually pulled alongside KaitlynAkeeper at the three-quarters before going right on by in the far turn. Butjust as it looked like she was going to pull away, Who Says That tipped aroundand came hard at her in the stretch. The two dueled head to head all the waydown the lane and hit the wire near simultaneously, but the photo showed MyTallia Ideal was the victor by a nose in 1:54.1.

The win was the seventh of the year for My TalliaIdeal ($2.80) and it pushed her earnings to $51,375 for owners Peter Kibler,Kenneth Owczarczak and Courtney McNeight. The 8-year-old Western Ideal mare istrained by Dave McNeight Jr.

Ray Fisher Jr. had a driving grand slam Wednesday,winning with Wicked Elphaba ($6.40), Purple N Gold ($17.40), Prince Jubilee($10.80) and Val’s Jett ($2.60). Wade Tomaszewski and Jim Morrill Jr. bothscored driving doubles.

Trainers Richard Tomaszewski and Richard Lareauboth sent two students to the winner’s enclosure.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday night(Sept. 30) with the first post set for 6:15 p.m. On Friday, the early Pick-5(Races 1 to 5) starts with a guaranteed pool of $4,000.