By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)
Batavia, NY — Back-to-back $13,500 Handicap Opens for both gaits topped the bill at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 14) night and fast miles were produced in each by pylon position participants.
In the trot, Biscoe (Jim McNeight Jr.) was a dominant winner after leading at every station in unfettered fashion.
The seven-horse field was scratched down to a five horse start that saw Treasured Tee (Joe Chindano Jr.) leave and cross-over before entering the turn while Biscoe seated from post one. But shortly after passing the eighth pole, McNeight pulled Biscoe and rolled to the front before the quarter. Biscoe then cut the breeze with fractions of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:27.4 with Treasured Tee trying to stay close. When the race came out of the last turn and entered the top of the stretch, Biscoe swelled up and bolted home on top by 5-¼ lengths in 1:57.2, matching his fastest previous win at The Downs this year.
It was the sixth win of the year for Biscoe ($3.90) who is owned by his driver, McNeight Jr. Jim McNeight trains the winner.
Then in the pace, Tiger Baron (Dave McNeight III) also left from the invisible rail and set a tepid pace of :58 to the half. That prompted a lot of action from behind as a multi-horse outer-flow rolled into contention led by Better Take It (Kevin Cummings). As the race headed up the backstretch Tiger Baron picked up the pace, Better Take It stalled in the race, and Mirragon A (Shawn McDonough) moved three-wide in haste, drawing alongside Tiger Baron at three-quarters in 1:26. Mirragon A took the lead in the last turn and held it until the top of the stretch. That’s where Tiger Baron took back control under a highly animated drive by McNeight, and forged ahead by a half length to win in 1:53.3, tying his seasonal mark.
Tiger Baron ($9.10) got his seventh win of the year for owner Courtney McNeight. Dave McNeight Jr. trains the winner.
It was one of three wins for McNeight III on the card.
Drew Monti was the leading driver on Saturday, scoring a grand slam in the bike. Monti won with RD Skippy (1:55, $3.90), Lana’s Desire (1:54, $2.60), Duck Dynasty (1:54.3, $22.60) and Admiral Hanover (1:54.3, $4.60). Monti also had a second and two thirds from his 11 drives.
The Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta was hit in the last race. The single unique winning combination of 2-9-4-6-7 returned $3,832.60 for the 20-cent wager.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Sept. 18) with post time at 6:00 p.m.
Free full card 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.