By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)
Batavia, NY — Driver Shawn Gray made the four hour drive from Saratoga to Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 1) worth it after scoring four wins on the card, including wins in both co-feature races. Those features were $9,500 Class A events – one on the trot and one on the pace – and were won by Double Class and Moved Bythe Spirit.
The trot went first and Double Class won his fifth race of the year in gate to wire fashion.
Gray put Double Class right on the point and with Mr. Squeeze (Drew Monti) sitting on his back, led through quarters of :29.2, 1:00.1 and 1:30 flat. The two horses maintained their positions while they broke away from the field in the far turn, but when they turned for home, Monti tipped Mr. Squeeze and took direct aim at Double Class. Mr. Squeeze was trotting hard and drew alongside Double Class in deep stretch. But Double Class would not let him by and crossed the line first by a nose in 1:58.3.
Double Class ($4.50) is owned by James Clouser Jr. and trained by Ron Beback Jr.
Then in the pace, Gray tried to leave with Moved Bythe Spirit, but took back to fourth as Winmebak (Brett Macdonald) got there first and set the tempo at the quarter in :27 flat. As the race passed the half, Handsoffmytitos (Dave McNeight III) pulled first from third, and Gray was out again with Moved Bythe Spirit as they turned for the backstretch. Positions remained unchanged to three-quarters where Handsoffmytitos stalled, forcing Moved Bythe Spirit three-deep around him in the far turn, where he engaged Winmebak before entering the lane. Winmebak stayed even for about six pylons, but Moved By The Spirit was the better horse this night and pulled away to a 1-¾ length win in 1:54.4.
It was the fourth win in the last five starts for Moved Bythe Spirit ($13.94), who is owned by Lucky Label Stable and trained by Taylor Fritz.
Gray closed out his four-bagger by winning with Chapter Twelve (2:00, $14.72) and Batting Stats (2:00.2, $5.20).
Gray wasn’t the only hot driver Saturday, as Dave McNeight III and Drew Monti both had hat tricks during the night as well, meaning the three accounted for winning 10 of the 12 races on Saturday. There were also three trainers tied for top talent as Taylor Fritz, Sam Smith and Chris Petrelli each won two during the proceedings.
Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Sunday (Aug 2) at 12:15 p.m. and there will be a $1,972 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the 13th race.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia Downs can always be downloaded at the track’s website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab. And you can watch all the races live as they happen for free on the Batavia Downs YouTube page.
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Batavia Downs Results Saturday Aug 01, 2026
1st – $5,000 Pace 1:57.3
7-Major Pocket A (Jo Chindano Jr.) 25.78 11.40 10.06
1-Ramapo Ccl (Ke Cummings) 4.10 3.24
3-Pepper Guy (De Bucceri) 9.16
EXACTA (7/1) $35.84
TRIFECTA (7/1/3) $167.82
Also – Major Authority, Actor Hanover, Governor Jk, I’m The Rock, I’ma Chic Magnet
2nd – $8,000 Trot 1:58.2
1-Latavius (Da McNeight III) 2.34 2.10 2.10
5-Lougazi (Ra Fisher Jr) 6.06 5.10
8-Fashion On A Star (Ky Cummings) 10.52
EXACTA (1/5) $9.99
TRIFECTA (1/5/8) $174.96
SUPERFECTA (1/5/8/6) $300.93
EARLY DOUBLE (7/1) $20.19
Also – Newsboy, All About Thechase, Marvin Hagler, I Got The Looks, Baby Yoda
3rd – $5,000 Pace 1:56.3
4-Obsessed With Lou (An Monti) 4.56 2.72 2.20
1-Woodmere Macerena (Ky Cummings) 2.62 2.16
3-Sunset Soph (Jo Chindano Jr.) 4.20
EXACTA (4/1) $4.48
TRIFECTA (4/1/3) $13.27
SUPERFECTA (4/1/3/7) $19.40
Also – Lizzy Lite Hands, Ashlee’s Delight, Mcnatural L, How About Murph, American Tour N
4th – $9,500 Trot 1:58.3
2-Double Class (Sh Gray) 4.50 2.68 2.44
4-Mister Squeeze (An Monti) 3.30 2.66
3-Kenobi (Jo Chindano Jr.) 5.08
EXACTA (2/4) $5.79
TRIFECTA (2/4/3) $8.43
SUPERFECTA (2/4/3/5) $29.61
Also – In My Dreams, Platinum Proposal, Rc Enterprise, Whats The Point, Security Code S
5th – $5,000 Pace 1:55.1
2-Da Ghetto Wizard (An Monti) 3.24 2.86 2.10
6-Seaside Sunset (Ky Cummings) 29.22 4.80
3-Skyline Blue Chip (Da McNeight III) 2.38
EXACTA (2/6) $29.85
TRIFECTA (2/6/3) $131.61
SUPERFECTA (2/6/3/5) $627.47
DAILY DOUBLE (2/2) $4.59
PICK 5 (7/1/4/2/2) $100.19
Also – Nui Ba Den N, Mask On Mask Off, High Impression, Bet Eightthirtyone, Giveitatry A
6th – $6,500 Pace 1:56.1
4-Sunshine Shelby N (Ke Cummings) 3.04 2.34 2.24
2-Chiefs Beach (Ra Fisher Jr) 3.54 3.30
7-Silverhill Blaze (Br Macdonald) 4.90
EXACTA (4/2) $4.18
TRIFECTA (4/2/7) $14.16
SUPERFECTA (4/2/7/6) $38.75
PICK 4 (4/2/2/4) $11.09
Also – Bet On Buter, Solar Solution, Trouble’s A Brewin, All About Lynx, Make My Deo
7th – $9,500 Pace 1:54.4
8-Moved Bythe Spirit (Sh Gray) 13.94 6.66 5.44
7-Winmebak (Br Macdonald) 4.48 3.12
1-Thor De Vie (Ke Cummings) 2.62
EXACTA (8/7) $23.66
TRIFECTA (8/7/1) $22.81
SUPERFECTA (8/7/1/4) $49.08
Scratched: Human Cocktail
Also – Bryant Seelster, Mc Man, Itsallaboutfaith N, Handsoffmytitos
8th – $8,000 Trot 2:00.0
6-Chapter Twelve (Sh Gray) 14.72 5.58 3.32
1-Wildandfree (De Bucceri) 3.28 2.38
4-Grinder (Jo Chindano Jr.) 2.38
EXACTA (6/1) $22.09
TRIFECTA (6/1/4) $43.58
SUPERFECTA (6/1/4/8) $114.71
Also – Skyway Professor, Franks Watching, Our Night Fury, Foreign Moni, Sbrocco
9th – $8,000 Pace 1:55.4
4-D A Magic Mike (Da McNeight III) 5.60 3.54 2.46
1-Dance Machine (De Bucceri) 3.40 2.58
5-Pepper Jack Flash (Ky Cummings) 4.94
EXACTA (4/1) $7.30
TRIFECTA (4/1/5) $14.41
SUPERFECTA (4/1/5/3) $51.16
DAILY DOUBLE (6/4) $39.89
Also – Mister Marvalous, Premier Dreamer, Skyway Ballistic, Memphistennessee N, Rockinbilly’sdream
10th – $5,000 Pace 1:57.4
5-Miramichi Alanna (Da McNeight III) 3.44 2.52 2.10
6-Bluebird Crush (Jo Chindano Jr.) 5.60 2.88
7-Go Tell Murph (An Monti) 2.22
EXACTA (5/6) $6.87
TRIFECTA (5/6/7) $6.80
SUPERFECTA (5/6/7/2) $8.14
PICK 4 (8/6/4/4,5) $86.93
Scratched: Naked Truth
Also – Bad Nella Monella, Beautiful Lights, Samosa Hanover
11th – $5,000 Trot 2:00.2
5-Batting Stats (Sh Gray) 5.22 2.62 2.10
2-Tulsa Bell (An Monti) 2.28 2.10
1-Echo De Meautis Fr (Da McNeight III) 2.24
EXACTA (5/2) $5.17
TRIFECTA (5/2/1) $5.11
SUPERFECTA (5/2/1/3) $15.04
Also – Silver Buckeye, Legacy’s Casanova, Missys Magic Man, Bunny Beau Monde
12th – $5,000 Pace 1:57.2
6-Sombodyitreasure (An Monti) 8.42 5.00 3.68
7-Speed Club (Ky Cummings) 6.32 4.52
4-Santana Beach (Sh Gray) 2.90
EXACTA (6/7) $38.11
TRIFECTA (6/7/4) $83.95
SUPERFECTA (6/7/4/9) $272.08
LATE DOUBLE (5/6) $14.11
PICK 3 (4,5/5/6) $17.81
JACKPOT SUPER HIGH FIVE ()
Also – Mingo Joel, Stabler, Dogfight, Erinwood Bigrig, Grand Ole Party, America Surrealest