By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs
(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)
Batavia, NY — A total of $104,000 was up for grabs for the 10 participating 2-year-old pacing fillies who were on hand for the New York Sire Stakes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening (Aug. 10).
The $52,500 second division was scratched down to a field of five and Vivians Dream (American Ideal-Sports Chic) put on quite a show.
Vivians Dream (Jordan Stratton) left sharply and grabbed the lead as soon as the gate closed. With Hunting Season (Mark Macdonald) and Rock My Socks (Jason Bartlett) following loosely in second and third, Stratton snugged-up Vivians Dream and got away with a very pedestrian :59 half and that strategy ended up paying big dividends.
When the race made its way onto the second circuit, the pace picked up substantially and Vivians Dream was starting to separate from the field. She got to three-quarters in 1:26.4, rounded the last turn and opened up by 3-1/4 lengths at the top of the stretch. From there she blazed home in :27.1 to win easily in 1:54.
It was the fifth win in only six lifetime starts for Vivians Dream ($2.50) and owner Forrest Bartlett. Cory Mumford trains the winner. Vivians Dream was bred at Winbak Farm.
Jordan Stratton ended the night with three driving wins.
In the first $51,500 division, Dame (Dude’s The Man-Seat By The Window) made every station a winning one en route to a new lifetime mark.
Luke Hanners held position with Dame from post one and became the commander of fractions after the post time favorite Doing Marvelous (Jordan Stratton) made a break trying for the front. Dame set intervals of :28, :57.4 and 1:27 with no opposition from the single file field in tow. At the top of the lane Dame was under a line drive and cruised home to a 2-¼ length win in a career best time of 1:55.2.
Dame ($7.40) was bred and is owned by Stephen Richard and is trained by Kelly Hastings.
When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 13) there will be a $1,405 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 wager in race 13. Post time for the first race is 6:00 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website at bataviadownsgaming.com