by Todd Haight, marketing coordinator, Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Batavia Downs Gaming plays host to a pair of New York Bred Late Closer finals for 3-year-old pacers on Saturday night, September 27. Each will carry a purse of $25,000 with one division being for the colts and geldings and the other for the fillies.

Eight evenly matched sophomore pacing fillies figure to put on quite a show in race four, the first Late Closer of the evening.

Michael Merton picks up the catch drive on morning line favorite Endless Project. A daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Kaitlins Lil Towel, she’s really come around for trainer Tim Case. She was a winner at the Downs back on September 12.

Another horse to watch in the fourth race is Mery Linny Lee, (Riverboat King-Passage). Not only was she a winner here on September 12, but she’s won her last three in a row for trainer John Stark, Jr. Kevin Cummings picks up the catch-drive.

Jim Morrill, Jr. will be in the sulky behind Lesley’s Jlo Belle. This Final Kid-Joan Of Art filly comes off an impressive score at Yonkers and could have a say in the outcome. She is part of a Ray Van Dreason entry; he will also send out Molly’s Lucky Star (Ray Fisher, Jr.).

Rounding out the field is Major Trap (Brian Allen), Natural Spring (John Cummings, Jr.), Dream Delight (Ken Holliday) and Gray Major (Jim McNeight).

Paul White photo

New Release is favored in his NY Bred Late Closer Final on Saturday night at Batavia.

The males hit the racetrack in race eight and there’s no doubt who the favorite will be. Charles and Giorgan Iannazzo’s New Release figures to be a prohibitive choice. This altered son of Pro Bono Best-Soft Sell has won five in a row including a much-the-best win in Western New York back on August 8 with Ray Fisher, Jr. at the controls. He gets a return engagement for trainer John Berger. New Release is a seven-time winner this season and sports a 1:53.4 seasonal best at Tioga Downs.

Others competing in the eighth race include Steamship Round (Troy Boring), Winbak Prince (Jim Morrill, Jr.), Twin B Lonestar (Ken Holliday), Herradura Hanover (Kevin Cummings), Here Comes Kris (John Cummings Jr.), Boat King (Chuck Connor Jr.) and Samardi Shuttle (Jim McNeight).

The first of 12 races gets underway at 7:05 p.m.