By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs
(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)
Batavia, NY — Louie The Lilac has been smelling like a rose at the current Batavia Downs meet and her success continued on Wednesday night (Sept. 20) after she extended her winning streak to five in the $15,000 Open I Handicap pace for fillies and mares.
Kevin Cummings pushed away the gate with Louie The Lilac and opened up a two length advantage at the :28.3 quarter and it only got worse for the competition from there. Louie The Lilac opened up 3-½ lengths at the half and extended her lead to four as she passed three-quarters in 1:26, with the field following loosely behind her. As the race rounded the far turn, Casie’s Believer (Joe Chindano Jr.) made her way to second from mid-pack, but had two lengths yet to make up. However that wasn’t going to happen on this night as Louie The Lilac cruised home first under a line drive from Cummings in 1:55.1.
It was the seventh win this year for Louie The Lilac ($2.60) and owner Mike Torcello. Sam Smith trains the winner.
Dave McNeight III had a grand slam on Wednesday, winning with Dancing Lisa (1:55.2, $8.70), Chipper Daisy (1:57.3, $4.20), Bngs Express (1:58.2, $29.60) and Ashlee’s Delight (1:55.4, $17.40).
The Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta was hit in the 13th race. The combination of 9-5-2-1-7 returned $6,404.90 for a 20-cent wager.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 22) at 6:00 p.m. Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.