By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)
Batavia, NY — After getting some class and post relief from her last two starts, Won Surreal Deal impressively toured the facility at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 30) evening en route to her sixth win of the year in the $12,000 upper-level conditioned pace for fillies and mares.
Kyle Cummings and Won Surreal Deal grabbed the initial lead from their pylon-position start before Louie The Lilac (Kevin Cummings) overtook them at the eighth pole. But Won Surreal Deal didn’t want the trip and re-took control before the :28.1 quarter. From there, Won Surreal Deal got to the half in a measured :57.1 half where Hes Express (Drew Monti) pulled first-over to challenge as they made their way onto the second circuit.
Hes Express drew alongside Louie The Lilac, but second was as far as he got as Won Surreal Deal continued to chug along on the engine and started to separate at three-quarters as Louie The Lilac tried to keep pace, which she did. But she could not make up any ground on Won Surreal Deal as the cruising leader won in-hand by 1-¾ lengths in 1:54 flat.
Won Surreal Deal ($3.50) is owned by Parsimonious Racing Stable and trained by Jeff Sorenson.
Later in the $9,500 conditioned event for fillies and mares, Oaxaca Dream N (Dave McNeight III) took the lead at the quarter from Shooting Brooke (Joe Chindano Jr.), who then sat the trip behind the leader through quarters of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:27.1. At the top of the stretch, Shooting Brooke pulled the pocket and blasted down the lane, gaining on Oaxacan Dream N with every stride. The race went down to the wire where Oaxacan Dream N hung on by a neck and won in 1:55.4.
It was the ninth win of the year for the heavily-backed Oaxacan Dream N ($2.90) who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags and trained by Maria Rice.
In the fourth race, 10-year-old Prairie Panther (Drew Monti) finished first in 1:56 and chalked up his 75th career victory for owners Joel Warner and Mike Deters, who also trains the habitual winner.
Brett Beckwith was visiting from The Spa and left as the leading driver on Wednesday after he won three races during the night. Two of those winners were conditioned by Chris Petrelli, who tied Maria Rice for top trainer honors with a double.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Nov. 1) with post time at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a carryover of $1,621 in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 13th race.