By Tim Bojarski, president of UNY-USHWA
(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)
Batavia, NY — The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs have announced the horses of the meet at The Downs, whose meet will conclude on Saturday (Dec. 7).
Dougadougadew (Deweycheatumnhowe-Fashionablefilly) has been named trotter of the meet while Won Surreal Deal (So Surreal-Won Ideal Night) has been named pacer of the meet.
Dougadougadew is the highest earning horse at Batavia this meet regardless of gait with $51,315 in earnings and is also the winningest trotter on the grounds with seven victories. He started the meet in lower level conditioned races and worked his way to the top, winning his first of three Open class trots on September 7. For the meet, Dougadougadew has made 17 starts with seven wins, three seconds and one third that give him a 41% win rate while finishing 65% of the time in the money. He also took a lifetime mark of 1:57.1 at The Downs on November 2 to cap off a career year.
Dougadougadew races from off the pace and his three and four wide three-quarter moves have provided a number of exciting finishes over the course of the meet. He is trained by Tammy Cummings and driven by Kyle Cummings for owners Doug and Tyra Ackley.
Won Surreal Deal is the highest earning pacer at this meet, banking $43,750 off of her six wins and four thirds registered from her 14 total starts. She is an upper-level mare who has won three Open paces for distaff participants while hitting the board in that elite class five other times. Her most impressive victory came early on August 13, when she bolted away to a seven length victory in 1:53.4. But the consistent side-wheeler remained a horse to beat through the entire meet as she finished her campaign winning four of her last six starts at Batavia.
Won Surreal Deal has a stellar win rate of 43% and has been in the money 71% of the time for trainer Jeff Sorenson and driver Kyle Cummings, who steered her in 13 of her 14 Batavia starts for owner Parsimonious Racing Stable.
The connections of Dougadougadew and Won Surreal Deal will be presented their awards trackside during the UNY-USHWA Night of Distinction that will be held at Batavia Downs on closing night, Saturday (Dec. 7).