By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs
(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)
Batavia, NY — There was a major upset in the $15,000 fillies and mares Open pace on Wednesday night (Sept. 21) at Batavia Downs after Pretty Blue Angel got a perfect trip and scored an 81-1 upset victory in the program’s eighth race.
Winning Words (Drew Monti) was the only leaver and took the front ahead of the pylon starting Pretty Blue Angel (Keith Kash Jr.) and went to the quarter in :28.2 and the half in :58. As the race approached the five-eighths, Dontustopbelieven N (Mike Baumeister) pulled from third and had the heavy post time favorite Dashintothebeach N (Jim Morrill Jr.) right on her back.
Winning Words continued to look strong and hit three-quarters in 1:26.2 while Dontustopbelieven N stalled in her bid, forcing Dashintothebeach N three-wide before the last turn. At the apex of that final bend, Pretty Blue Angel pulled the pocket and went on the attack against Winning Words. Under urging, Pretty Blue Angel got the advantage in deep stretch and then had enough left to hold off the fast closing Dashintothebeach N to win by one-quarter length in 1:55.
It was the fourth win and fastest mile of the year for Pretty Blue Angel who returned $164.50 for the win. The 5-year-old Big Jim-Blue Angel Cam mare is owned by Justina Ohol and is trained by Mike Ohol.
Jim Morrill Jr. remained red hot on Wednesday, winning five more races at Batavia.
In the co-featured $11,000 upper-level distaff pace, Morrill won with Ruthmae Hanover who cut the mile to the half in a very pedestrian :59.2, briefly give up the lead to How About Murph (Kyle Cummings) at three-quarters and then regained the front to hold off a late bid from the tripping Misty Memory N (Dave McNeight III) to win by one-quarter length in 1:57 flat.
Ruthmae Hanover ($3.20) is trained by Angelo Nappo for owner Steven Goehle.
Morrill also won with Payara (1:55.3, $3.90), Ideally Sweet (1:57.4, $4.30), Queen Of Thrones (1:55.3, $3.80) and Tucson Breeze (1:58, $2.30).
Shawn McDonough led all trainers on Wednesday with two wins.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 23) with post time at 6 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