By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)
Batavia, NY — Saturday (Sept. 21) night at Batavia Downs featured $13,500 Open Handicaps for both the pace and trot and this week, upset winners prevailed in each contest.
The pacers went first and Lip Reader A (Drew Monti) got his third win at Batavia this meet.
Lip Reader A got away sixth while Admiral Hanover (Kyle Swift) led to the quarter in :27.4, where Villiam (Joe Chindano Jr.) then blasted by him to take control. As Villiam crossed-over at the top of the turn, Monti was pulling Lip Reader A off the pegs and pushing him through the breeze as the long march to the front began. When Villiam reached the half in :57, Lip Reader A drew alongside his flank and before reaching three-quarters, the pair was locked in a duel. Villiam and Lip Reader A pulled away from the field by three lengths in the final bend and both drivers were highly animated in the urging of their mounts. Villiam and Lip Reader A paced stride for stride all the way down the lane until Lip Reader A got the advantage by a quarter length and won in 1:53.4.
It was the ninth win of the year for Lip Reader A ($11.60) who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing Maria Rice trains the winner.
Lip Reader A was one of four winners for Monti on Saturday. He also won with P L Quarantine (1:54.1, $12.40), Heir Of Southwest (1:57.2, $8.10) and Leave And Roll (1:56.1, $19.60).
The trot was the very next race and Biscoe (Jim McNieght Jr.) got his second win in a row while being overlooked by the betting public, despite winning the Open last week.
Biscoe got off to a slow start and was 10 lengths behind the frontrunning Treasured Tee (Joe Chindano Jr.) at the :27.4 quarter. Then as the leader passed the half, Biscoe started moving up on the outside. Treasure Tee looked strong on the point rolling through the backstretch and Biscoe appeared to stall at that same time. But as the race neared three-quarters, Biscoe got it in gear and was trotting up a storm as they headed into the last turn. Treasure Tee was able to hold Biscoe at bay until they reached the top of the stretch, where Biscoe simply trotted away from the field by 3-½ lengths and won in 1:57.
Biscoe ($28.20) got his seventh win of the year for his driver McNeight, who also owns the horse. Jim McNeight does the training.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Sept. 25) with post time at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a $1,290 carryover and the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 14th race.
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.