by Todd Haight, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — The 2006 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace produced a new track record. The fifth annual event, named in honor of the former chairman of the board at Western Regional Off-Track Betting, could have the same result.

Eight classy pacers will go behind the starting gate in race seven, the $30,000 Kane Memorial, on Saturday night (October 6) at Batavia Downs. Approximate post time is 8:45 p.m.

“This year’s Kane field is the best overnight race I have ever put together,” said racing secretary Joe Zambito.

Gimmebackmybullets starts out as the 5-2 morning line favorite. The 4-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight has lifetime earnings of over $643,000 and a lifetime best win mark of 1:49.3, set at Hippodrome de Montreal this year. Keith Kash, Jr. picks up the catch drive for trainer Jackie Rousse. Gimmebackmybullets begins from post seven.

The popular locally owned pacer Michael Scores starts out at 3-1 on the line. Michael Scores won the 2006 Kane Memorial in track record time of 1:52.1. Kevin Cummings drove “Michael” to victory in last year’s Kane and will be back in the bike for owner Sandra Compton and trainer Jim Compton. Michael Scores, a 6-year-old son of Held For Ransom drew post four. He has lifetime earnings of over $458,000 and a 1:50.4 lifetime mark, set at Tioga Downs earlier this year.

Cummings thinks Michael Scores can defend his title.

“It’s a good field,” Cummings said. “I’m just going to see what happens when the gate opens.”

Slickest Hanover gets the services of two-time Batavia Downs leading driver Jim Morrill, Jr. Starting from post eight, Slickest Hanover comes off a 1:52.2 score last time out at Yonkers Raceway for trainer Ettore Annunziata and owner Richard Annunziata. Slickest Hanover, a 4-year-old son of Western Ideal, took his lifetime mark of 1:51.4 earlier this year at Yonkers. He has lifetime earnings of almost $220,000.

The classy Our First Falcon N could have a big say in the outcome for trainer/driver Ron Cushing. Our First Falcon N is a New Zealand bred 7-year-old son of Falcon Seelster. Starting from post three, Our First Falcon N has lifetime earnings of $520,645 and a 1:50.1 best win time set at Rockingham Park last year. SX Racing Stable owns Our First Falcon N.

Also competing in this year’s Kane Memorial are 1-Scudder, Ken Holliday; 2-Cowboy Again, Robby McNeight; 5-Don’t Fight The Law, Larry Stalbaum; and 6-Four Star Tommy, Ray Fisher, Jr.

Racing fans that purchase a Batavia Downs program beginning at 5:30 p.m. (advance sales and off-track sales excluded) will get a free Kane Memorial T-shirt. Racing programs (while supplies last) will contain a coupon that can be redeemed in the paddock room after the seventh race.

Listed below is the field with post position, driver, morning line odds and lifetime best win marks.

Number-Horse-Driver-Odds-Lifetime Mark
1-Scudder- K. Holliday-10-1-1:53.2
2-Cowboy Again-R. McNeight-15-1-1:52.1
3-Our First Falcon N-R. Cushing-9-2-1:50.1
4-Michael Scores-K. Cummings-3-1-1:50.4
5-Don’t Fight The Law-L. Stalbaum-6-1-1:52
6-Four Star Tommy-R. Fisher, Jr.-8-1-1:52.4
7-Gimmebackmybullets-K.Kash, Jr.-5-2-1:49.3
8-Slickest Hanover-J. Morrill, Jr.-4-1-1:51.4