By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs
(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)
Batavia, NY — American Dealer N scored a 2-½ length victory and set a new all-time track record of 1:50.2 in the 17th edition of the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Aug. 26).
American Courage (Matt Kakaley) fired off the wings and took a quick lead while American Dealer N (Joe Bongiorno) also left and tucked into the garden spot. After getting to the quarter in :27.1 and the half in :55.3, Gia’s Surreal (Brian Sears) was first to pull and try to approach the leader. But American Courage was not slowing down after the :27.3 third quarter and he and American Dealer N were starting to separate from the field. As they came off the turn and headed down the lane, American Dealer N ducked into the passing lane and accelerated like a jet by American Courage in deep stretch and won in 1:50.2 to set the new track standard.
It was the sixth win of the year for the Australian import American Dealer N ($26.80) who is owned by Enviro Stables and Ken Jacobs.
This was the second Kane win for Jacobs and Toscano who won the 2008 edition with Kenneth J who also set the all time track record then of 1:52 with his effort that day.
It was also the third win of the night for Joe Bongiorno.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 27) at 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 and clicking the “Live Racing” tab.
Wish grampa Hughie Bell was still alive and driving on race day. “Always better with Hughie”.