The Saturday (Sept. 28) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Saratoga Casino Hotel, Batavia Downs and Vernon Downs.

Betterlatethnnever takes featured pace at Saratoga

Saratoga Springs, NY — Veteran pacer Betterlatethnnever (Western Terror) has been a winning machine over the course of the last several years. The Jimmy Nickerson-trained pacer got his career off to a late start but once he started, he has never stopped.

Betterlatethnnever closed with a power surge on the far outside and emerged victorious after a scramble in the stretch. Melissa Simser-Iovino photo.

On Saturday night at Saratoga, the 10-year-old was the longest shot on the board in the evening’s $15,000 Open Pace with Mitch Cushing in the sulky. After Hudson Phil, the race’s favorite, traveled unopposed on the lead in a first half in :56, he faltered heading to three-quarters and a host of closers swallowed up the favorite around the final turn.

Betterlatethnnever closed with a power surge on the far outside and emerged victorious after a scramble in the stretch, stopping the timer in 1:53.1 to record the upset at odds of 9-1. Century Endeavor (Gerry Mattison) finished second in the Saturday feature while Lord Willoughby A (Larry Stalbaum) earned the show spot.

Betterlatethnnever paid $21.20 to win and led an exacta and triple in the six-horse feature that returned $110 and $307.50, respectively. The Open win was the first at Saratoga in the young career of driver Mitch Cushing.

The win was the tenth of the season for the Nickerson trainee and though it was the first in the local Open in 2019 for Betterlatethnnever, it wasn’t his first career victory in a Saratoga Open. Back in the ’17 season at the age of eight, Betterlatethnnever won an Open in a career-best 1:50.1, a mark that still stands for the classy pacer.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon at the Spa with a matinee beginning at Noon.

— Mike Sardella

Batavia Downs

A torrential rainstorm rolled into Genesee County just prior to post time and downgraded conditions to sloppy before the first race ever hit the track. But the inclement weather and less than desirable track conditions did not prevent Tullow N from imposing his will on his foes in winning the $12,500 Open Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs. Tullow N (John Cummings Jr.) was the only leaver in the feature and Cummings took full advantage of his position. After settling onto the lead, he backed the quarter down to a pedestrian :29 and then further throttled-down to a :59.2 half as everyone refused to pull. As soon as they entered the third turn, Cummings hit the gas and Tullow N looked more like himself. With a two-length gapped advantage he got to the three-quarters in 1:27.3, swung around the last turn and then just paced away in the lane to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:56. It was the seventh win of the year and fifth of the Batavia meet for Tullow N ($5.90) and owner Blindswitch Racing. Dave Russo trains the winner.

In the $11,000 Open II Pace, Mr Euroman N (Billy Davis Jr.) went right to the front and never looked back. After cutting fractions of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.3, Davis rounded the last turn on cruise control and let Mr Euroman N fly home in 1:55 on top by a 1-1/2 length margin. It was the second win in a row for Mr Euroman N ($3.40) who is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Adelphi Bloodstock. Maria Rice trains the winner.

— Tim Bojarski

Vernon Downs

Sweet Deisel (Dan Daley) and Brookdale Bruiser (John MacDonald) each captured $6,000 co-features at Vernon Downs on Saturday.

Sweet Deisel ($12.40) came flying late to grab the first $6,000 featured pace. Golden Gun (Claude Huckabone Jr.) took the lead just before hitting the first quarter in :26.1. He maintained the lead at the halfway mark in :55. Sometimes Said (John MacDonald) hit the three-quarter mark first in 1:23.1. Sweet Deisel, who is trained by Dan Daley for owners Ann- Mari Daley, James Crawford IV, and Crawford Farms Racing, was eighth at the half-mile mark and seventh after three-quarters. The gelding weaved through the field in deep stretch and got by Golden Gun to win with a lifetime best mile of 1:53. Golden Gun was second best with Golden Brit (Howard Parker) getting third money. Sweet Deisel is a 3-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou. It was his fifth win this season and ninth career victory.

Brookdale Bruiser ($13.60) popped the pocket in the stretch to win the second $6,000 featured pace. Daliocity (Howard Parker) controlled all the early fractions (:27.2, :57.1, 1:25.4). Brookdale Bruiser, who is owned by the J P Stables and trained by MacDonald, followed until they reached the stretch. He looked like a rocket in deep stretch, blowing by to win in 1:53.4. Daliocity had to settle for second. Poisonous (Jimmy Whittemore) finished third. Brookdale Bruiser is a 5-year-old gelding by Roll With Joe. It was his eighth win of 2019 and he now owns 16 career victories.

— John Horne