Batavia, NY – With her best effort on display, Odds On Monetary (Huntsville-All On Top Hanover) notched her third straight victory by winning the $121,800 New York Sires Stake for 3-year-old pacing fillies while handing the first loss of the year to the heavily favored Liberty Style at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (July 22), which was opening night of the summer/fall meet.
Liberty Style (Jason Bartlett) was first to the front while Odds On Monetary (Ridge Warren) also left, but had to navigate around the breaking Taladega Express (Leon Bailey) in the first turn. Eventually Liberty Style reached the quarter in :27.2 but as she was passing that station, Odds On Monetary was passing her, and crossed over to the pegs to take command in turn two. The race reached the half in :56.3 where the challenges would soon begin.
Surreal Spirit (Jeff Gregory) pulled first-over and made her way up to second in the breeze, just a length behind the leader. But that rush would stall in turn three, leaving Odds On Monetary and the pocket-stalking Liberty Style to battle from there on. When Odds On Monetary turned for home, Liberty Style dipped into the passing lane and was under a drive. She made up over a length before the line, but came up a head shy of Odds On Monetary, who would not be denied and won in 1:54.2.
It was the third straight win for Odds On Monetary ($19.68), who is owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Travis Alexander.
Odds On Monetary was bred by Crawford Farms.
There were also three $20,000 Excelsior Series races on the card and all three were won by horses piloted by Jason Bartlett.
The first was won by Brueckers (American Ideal-Finnish Your Way – 1:55, $2.94), who is owned by Bonnie Benson, Ethan Stafford and Andrew Stafford, who also trains the filly. Stephen Dey III bred the winner.
The second was won by Grazia (Huntsville-Ramalama – 1:53.4, $2.10), who is owned by VIncent Ferriero Jr., Pint Size Racing, Dominic Pavia and Steven Held, trained by Joe Pavia Jr. and bred by Whiskeyontherocks Racing.
And the third was won by Carry Back (Huntsville-Hard Eight – 1:54, $2.10), who is owned by The Bay’s Stable, Polger Stables, Fred Wallace and Richard Jack and trained by Linda Toscano. The Bay’s Stable, Polger Holdings, South Mountain Stables and Mark Mullen bred Grazia.
Bartlett added a fourth win in an overnight event with Granny’s Watching (1:54.4, $6.04) to register a natural grand slam in races three through six.
Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Saturday (July 25) at 5:00 p.m.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia Downs can always be downloaded at the track’s website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab. And you can watch all the races live as they happen for free on the Batavia Downs YouTube page.