By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs
(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)
Batavia, NY — Completely overlooked by the betting public at 28-1, I Got The Looks put in the effort of his year and blew up the tote board in the $15,000 Open I Handicap trotting feature at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Oct. 6).
They were three wide almost the entire first quarter as I Got The Looks (Dan Yetman), Mugshots Bro (Jim Morrill Jr.) and Dewey Arnold all argued for the lead, with the latter getting the front just past the :27.4 quarter. Once everyone settled on the pylons, positions remained unchanged until the five-eighths where I Got The Looks pulled first-over and advanced. Dewey Arnold still led at three-quarters, but I Got The Looks drew even with him in the last turn and the two trotted together to the lane. As they headed down the stretch, I Got The Looks kept inching closer to the top and finally got the lead in the shadow of the wire to win by three-quarters of a length in a season’s best,1:56.2.
It was the fourth win of the year for I Got The Looks ($58.50) who is owned by Tronolone Racing and trained by Frank Mays.
Earlier in the $13,000 Open II Handicap trot, the lone mare in the race, Gracious Triumph (Jim Morrill Jr.), made a first-over move from fifth at the half in pursuit of the front-running Lunar Credit (Jim McNeight Jr.) and pulled alongside that leader in the final turn. At the top of the stretch, City Of Hope (Kevin Cummings) joined the leaders and the three charged side by side down the lane until Gracious Triumph got a slight advantage and hit the line first by a head in 1:57.2, which also gave her a new seasonal mark.
It was the third win in the last four starts for Gracious Triumph ($2.90) and owner Harry Wortzman. Shawn McDonough trains the winner.
Jim Morrill Jr. led all drivers on Friday with three wins on the card while trainer Jim Clouser Jr. topped the conditioners with two.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Oct. 7) at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a $3,634 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race 13.