Starbux Eden beats the boys in Batavia Downs feature

Batavia, NY — It was Ladies’ Night on Friday in the featured $8,200 Open I-II Handicap Trot at Batavia Downs as the lone mare in the field of seven, Starbux Eden, beat the boys by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:00.4.

Paul White photo

Starbux Eden was a winner in 2:00.4.

Owned, trained and driven to victory by John Cummings Jr., the favored Starbux Eden ($4.40) sat the pocket behind the pacesetting Perfect Man (Dave McNeight, Jr.) through quarters of :29, 1:00.2 and 1:30.1.

But just before the top of the stretch, instead of dropping down to the passing lane, Cummings tipped the 6-year-old Striking Sahbra mare to the outside and trotted home smartly in :30.3 on the blustery evening, easily beating Keystone Bernard (Shawn Gray). Partici Pator (Jim McNeight) finished third.

It was the tenth win of the season for Starbux Eden in 35 starts and increased her 2012 earnings to $60,005.

Reinsman Dan Noble, currently second in the Downs standings, was the driving star of the evening, winning six times on the 12-race card.

— Brian Mazurek

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Pembroke Prayer continued his march towards becoming a millionaire on Friday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The 8-year-old trotter scored a convincing Open victory for leading driver Billy Dobson. Dismissed at odds of 9-1, Pembroke Prayer (Like A Prayer) moved first over on the race’s favorite Whybabywhy (Bruce Aldrich, Jr.) and surged by approaching the three-quarter pole. The Mark Ford trained trotting veteran stopped the timer in 1:56.1 in the $21,000 Open for his 48th career victory. With the win, Pembroke Prayer moved his lifetime earnings past the $968,000 mark. Whybabywhy held strong for second in the Friday feature while Gotabgoodtoblucky (Mark Beckwith) came on for third.