The Saturday (Nov. 23) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Batavia Downs, Hollywood Dayton Raceway and Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Renaldo Morales III has a big night at Batavia

Batavia, NY — A late-comer to the party, Renaldo Morales III headed to Genesee County upon the completion of the Tioga Downs meet and since arriving has become one of the hotter drivers in the area. On Saturday (Nov. 23) he continued the streak as he won four races, including both pacing features at Batavia Downs.

Howmac Dancer provides Renaldo Morales III with one of his four wins on the evening. Paul White photo.

In the $12,500 Open I Handicap Morales put Howmac Dancer right on the point and led the entire race by open lengths. After setting easy fractions of :28, :57.1 and 1:25.2, Morales let Howmac Dancer out a notch in the far turn and the gelding roared away down the lane, opening up a 3-1/2 length lead in a :28.1 final quarter to win in 1:53.3.

It was the sixth win at Batavia Downs and eighth of the year for Howmac Dancer ($6.10) who is owned by the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. James Clouser Jr. trains the winner.

Then in the $11,000 Open II pace, Morales did an about-face and took In Runaway Bay N off the gate and sat a snug fourth on the pegs through the first half. From there he pulled second-over behind Southwind Onyx (Kyle Cummings), followed that cover to the three-quarters where Southwind Onyx took the lead from Lots Of Loving (Denny Bucceri) and then ran that one down in the stretch to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.2.

In Runaway Bay N ($4.30) is owned by Mark Jakubik and trained by Angelo Nappo.

Morales completed his Grand Slam behind Weekend Atnannies (1:56, $8.10) and Cee Pee Panic (1:58, $2.70).

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 27) with pot time at 6 p.m. This will be the final Wednesday of live racing this year.

— by Tim Bojarski

Hollywood Dayton Raceway

I’m A Big Deal (Brett Miller) lived up to his name on Saturday (Nov. 23) at Hollywood Dayton Raceway. The 4-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere, a recent $155,000 purchase at the Standardbred Horse Sale, captured the $17,500 Open Pace in 1:50.2 over a sloppy track. The even-money favorite cut all the early fractions (:26.4, :55.3, and 1:22.3) before tacking on a :28 final panel to top Fourboltmane (Mike Oosting) and Eddard Hanover (Josh Sutton) by open lengths. A consistent 1:49 to 1:52 pacer at Harrah’s Philadelphia over the past several months leading up to his sale, earning $57,000 in 19 starts, I’m A Big Deal had six wins for his former connections in 2019. “Word was that he had some problems bearing in on the turns, preventing him from being a super horse,” said driver Miller. “Tonight, though, he steered perfectly. He’s a very nice horse.” New owner Dana Parham has entrusted leading Ohio trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. to condition and manage the winner. The feature race victory was one of five on the program for Hollywood Dayton dash leader Brett Miller. His other triumphs came behind Bottom Deals (1:52, $5.40), Major Deception (1:52.3, $5.40), My Buddy Ninkster (1:52.1, $7.80) and Blazin Baron (1:51.4, $4.80). Racing resumes Monday and Tuesday afternoon at Hollywood Dayton with 2:05 p.m. matinees. A special Wednesday (Nov. 27) evening program will replace the Thursday (Nov. 28) card due to Thanksgiving.

— from Hollywood Dayton Raceway

Saratoga Casino Hotel

Another Saturday night (Nov. 23) and another victory in the Open Pace for Crockets Cullen N (Christian Cullen) who lengthened his sensational win streak at Saratoga Casino Hotel to eight. The veteran New Zealander has become a superstar this year in the Open and has thrived in recent months despite starting from outside posts every week and navigating through a variety of different trips. On Saturday night, Crockets Cullen N was assigned post six in the $18,000 six-horse feature and his owner-driver Larry Stalbaum flashed early speed with the Tracy Tarantino stable’s star. Crockets Cullen N wound up in the pocket behind Hudson Phil (Frank Coppola Jr), an eight-time Open winner this year and runner-up to Crockets Cullen N last Saturday. Hudson Phil posted honest fractions of :27.1 and :55.4 in lap one and all the while, Stalbaum sat patiently in the pocket before springing the two-hole around the final turn. Crockets Cullen N slugged it out in the stretch with Hudson Phil before putting him away to prevail in 1:53. The win was the 14th of the season for Crockets Cullen N who has now won eight consecutive tries in the local Open. Hudson Phil was the runner-up to the track’s new superstar for second straight Saturday evening while Bettor Notbitter A (Jay Randall) came on to earn the show spot. Crockets Cullen N paid $5.00 to win in his most recent score and led an exacta and triple that returned $22 and $32.60, respectively. Crockets Cullen N and Hudson Phil are joined by In A Single Bound and Century Endeavor as nominees for Pacer of the Year at Saratoga, an award that will be given out at the conclusion of the meet next month.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a first post time set for noon.

— by Mike Sardella