Batavia, NY — A pair of $13,500 Open class races topped the card at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Aug. 29), and both events included big miles with exciting finishes.
First in the Open trot, Seventier (Brett Macdonald) came from off the pace to score his 10th win of the year.
Seventier got away fourth as the heavily favored Shine All The Way (driven by Dave McNeight III) led from the start while posting quarters of :28.4, :59 and 1:27.4, with Treasured Tee (Drew Monti) drafting in the pocket. As they headed toward turn four, Macdonald had pulled Seventier and was motoring up the rim, making his way to second at the top of the stretch and only a length behind the leader. When they straightened for home, Shine All The Way was under moderate urging and looked strong. But Seventier was loose under a line-drive in the middle of the track and motored to the front by one-half length and won in 1:56.2.
It was the third win in a row and fourth win at Batavia for Seventier, who is owned by El Dorado Stable and Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith. He paid $5.04 to win.
Then in the $13,500 Open Handicap pace, Lip Reader A (Drew Monti) also took an early tuck in advance of a late surge to win his first of the meet at The Downs.
Lip Reader A settled in third behind Shoobee Doo A (Gareth Dowse) while post-time chalk Moved Bythe Spirit (Shawn Gray) laid down speedy splits of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:25.3 as the top three positions never changed to that point. But also at that point, Monti tipped Lip Reader A and started the advance to the front. By the time the group moved through the last turn, Lip Reader A drew even with Moved Bythe Spirit and Shoobee Doo A was poised to enter the fray in the passing lane. The three pacers battled into deep stretch, where Lip Reader A got the advantage and the win in 1:54.1.
Lip Reader A scored his sixth win of the year and went over $400,000 in lifetime earnings ($406,016) for owners Vogel & Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing. Maria Rice was the winning trainer. Lip Reader A paid $15.80 to win.
Driver Shawn Gray was red hot again on Saturday, getting another grand slam in the bike. Gray won with Kid From The Bronx (1:55.4, $2.64), Just Zip It (1:56.2, $4.38), Avion Seelster (1:54.2, $5.54) and Santana Beach (1:56.4, $28.22), who scored his 62nd lifetime win.
Trainers Rice, Smith, and Dave McNeight Jr. all had two wins apiece.
Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Sept. 2) with a final visit by the New York Sire Stakes that will feature one field of 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings vying for $115,500 in purse money.
Also please note that post time has once again been moved up to 4 p.m. (EDT) for Wednesday and there will be a $1,217 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the 13th race.
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.