By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)
Batavia, NY — The last of four Sunday matinee cards of racing was held at Batavia Downs on August 16 and offered a stout slate of competition, with two top tier tilts headlining the 14-race program with winners heavily backed by the public.
A $13,500 Open Handicap trot was slotted in race 11 and resident diagonal-gaited specialist, El Toro Loco, registered the 30th win of his career for trainer Sam Smith, who registered a conditioning grand slam during the afternoon.
Kevin Cummings sent El Toro Loco to the point and then “The Crazy Bull” did the rest. With Valentine Express (Shawn Gray) drafting in the garden spot, El Toro Loco set middling fractions of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:29.1, yet still maintained a 1-¾ length lead heading into turn four. At the top of the lane, Valentine Express was trotting sharply in his :28 flat final panel and made up the majority of the deficit. But he came up a head short at the line, where El Toro Loco hung on to win in 1:57.3.
It was the third win in the last six starts and sixth win of the year for El Toro Loco ($3.28), who is owned by Mike Torcello.
Other winners Smith sent to post included Fox Valley Cayman (1:55.4, $3.74), Cash Back (1:57, $11.00) and Seventier (1:57.4, $3.02), who rounded out his four-bagger.
There was also a $13,500 Open Handicap pace two races later where Lanjo Lee posted his 40th lifetime victory.
Kyle Cummings also sent Lanjo Lee forward off the gate and opened up a two-length lead at the :28.2 quarter. He then got to the half in :57.1 where Lip Reader A (Drew Monti) pulled first-over from third and joined the pocket-sitting Luck Is Up (Brett Macdonald) in pursuit of the leader. As the race approached three-quarters, Lip Reader A moved into second, but was still a length shy of Lanjo Lee. Lip Reader A continued to compete hard through the last turn but when they reached the stretch, Cummings tapped the gas and Lanjo Lee opened up a two-length gap and won in 1:54.
Lanjo Lee ($2.56) eclipsed $75,000 in earnings this year with the victory, now showing $75,096 in the bank for owner Gordon Swift. Tammy Cummings trains the winner.
Drivers Kevin Cummings and Shawn Gray posted three wins apiece during the proceedings on Sunday.
Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5 p.m. and feature two divisions of New York Sire Stake 2-year-old pacing fillies who will compete for $104,000 in total purses.
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.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Batavia Downs Results Sunday Aug 16, 2026
1st – $6,500 Pace 1:55.4
4-Fox Valley Cayman (Sh Gray) 3.78 2.78 2.24
6-Pointomygranson (Jo Chindano Jr.) 6.02 4.16
1-Rockette Baby (An Monti) 2.94
EXACTA (4/6) $16.45
TRIFECTA (4/6/1) $24.06
Also – Chiefs Beach, Mach Le More A, Lookinlikeamillion, Scrub Hanover, Twenty Five
2nd – $5,000 Pace 1:55.3
4-Caviart Val (Ra Fisher Jr) 14.88 5.16 4.48
2-Timeto Communicate (Br Macdonald) 2.68 2.30
6-Captain Dee Tee (An Monti) 3.84
EXACTA (4/2) $20.33
TRIFECTA (4/2/6) $62.69
SUPERFECTA (4/2/6/5) $52.57
EARLY DOUBLE (4/4) $11.36
Also – Giveitatry A, Shocking Truth, Kd’s Mik, Major Pocket A, Grand Ole Party
3rd – $6,500 Pace 1:57.0
1-Cash Back (Ke Cummings) 11.00 8.90 7.22
6-Counter Offer (Mi Whelan) 13.10 8.08
8-Da Ghetto Wizard (An Monti) 5.86
EXACTA (1/6) $107.27
TRIFECTA (1/6/8) $864.58
SUPERFECTA (1/6/8/2) $523.02
Also – Ideal Artillery, Sombodyitreasure, Darbie’s Ideal, Dine With Kings, Mask On Mask Off
4th – $11,000 Trot 1:57.4
3-Seventier (Br Macdonald) 3.02 2.10 2.10
1-Uncle Archie (Ke Cummings) 2.14 2.10
2-Infinity Stone (Jo Chindano Jr.) 3.02
EXACTA (3/1) $2.89
TRIFECTA (3/1/2) $4.99
SUPERFECTA (3/1/2/5) $8.45
Also – Biscoe, Mister Squeeze, Crazy Fool, Whats The Point, Double Class
5th – $8,000 Pace 1:55.2
1-Dance Machine (De Bucceri) 5.50 3.52 2.18
9-Premier Dreamer (Br Macdonald) 7.48 3.42
3-Twist Knot (An Monti) 2.32
EXACTA (1/9) $14.96
TRIFECTA (1/9/3) $22.76
SUPERFECTA (1/9/3/5) $60.60
DAILY DOUBLE (3/1) $8.58
PICK 5 (4/4/1/3/1) $225.44
Also – Pepper Jack Flash, Colton’s Charm, Drill, Contact Zone, Music To My Gears, Dancin Diablo
6th – $11,000 Pace 1:53.2
1-Davey Day Trader (Sh Gray) 2.82 2.10 2.10
3-Fernetti N (Da McNeight III) 2.76 2.24
4-Bold Speed (Ky Cummings) 2.68
EXACTA (1/3) $2.70
TRIFECTA (1/3/4) $2.76
SUPERFECTA (1/3/4/2) $4.26
PICK 4 (1/3/1/1) $30.57
Also – Pro Beach, Soul Assassin, Jms Best Bet, Winmebak
7th – $6,500 Pace 1:56.1
5-Skylight (Ke Cummings) 6.20 4.52 2.92
3-Brutus Bayama (Br Macdonald) 5.80 3.82
2-Out On Bail (Sh Gray) 3.38
EXACTA (5/3) $16.51
TRIFECTA (5/3/2) $24.53
SUPERFECTA (5/3/2/4) $25.28
Also – Checkonwilliam Gb, Silverhill Blaze, Ohare Hanover, Better Than Never, Stonebridge Wizard
8th – $12,200 Pace 1:53.0
4-Moved Bythe Spirit (Sh Gray) 2.58 2.10 2.10
1-Total Stranger (Jo Cummings Jr) 3.50 2.94
2-Beach Choice (Wa Tomaszewski) 3.88
EXACTA (4/1) $3.76
TRIFECTA (4/1/2) $5.18
SUPERFECTA (4/1/2/3) $4.33
Also – Marvellous Mac A, Shoobee Doo A, Italian Lad N, Ontop Rainman
9th – $11,000 Trot 1:55.4
1-Treasured Tee (An Monti) 5.94 3.14 2.10
5-Cool Clifford (Ke Cummings) 4.38 2.56
4-Said N Done As (Sh Gray) 2.12
EXACTA (1/5) $12.55
TRIFECTA (1/5/4) $12.46
SUPERFECTA (1/5/4/6) $36.27
DAILY DOUBLE (4/1) $4.83
Also – Peso Hanover, Spanish Room, Latavius, Hp Maestro, Buttinski
10th – $5,000 Pace 1:57.1
8-Make My Deo (Br Macdonald) 14.56 6.48 3.82
4-Target Aquired (An Shetler) 5.50 4.56
3-Bolt Power (Jo Chindano Jr.) 3.08
EXACTA (8/4) $52.07
TRIFECTA (8/4/3) $57.99
SUPERFECTA (8/4/3/1) $75.06
PICK 4 (5/4/1/8) $104.33
Also – Bar Down Brisby, Bet Eightthirtyone, Hurricane J, Matticulous Gb, Facing The Giants
11th – $13,500 Trot 1:57.2
4-El Toro Loco (Ke Cummings) 3.28 2.88 2.10
3-Valentine Express (Sh Gray) 3.58 2.54
6-Shine All The Way (Da McNeight III) 4.08
EXACTA (4/3) $10.04
TRIFECTA (4/3/6) $22.61
SUPERFECTA (4/3/6/2) $29.39
DAILY DOUBLE (8/4) $36.24
PICK 3 (1/8/4) $79.32
Also – Miss Bliss, Dougadougadew, Crazy Ritz
12th – $8,000 Pace 1:54.1
5-Pinebushdragonlife (An Monti) 2.60 2.22 2.10
2-Cold Decked (Wa Tomaszewski) 4.94 3.56
3-Connor B (Sh Gray) 2.40
EXACTA (5/2) $6.41
TRIFECTA (5/2/3) $6.33
SUPERFECTA (5/2/3/4) $11.07
Also – Memphistennessee N, Long Shot Buckets, John The Baptist, Skyway Ballistic, Fantome En Joie
13th – $13,500 Pace 1:54.0
5-Lanjo Lee (Ky Cummings) 2.56 2.10 2.10
1-Luck Is Up (Br Macdonald) 3.70 2.30
2-Lip Reader A (An Monti) 2.80
EXACTA (5/1) $2.94
TRIFECTA (5/1/2) $2.98
SUPERFECTA (5/1/2/3) $3.25
LATE DOUBLE (5/5) $1.98
PICK 3 (4/5/5) $3.99
JACKPOT SUPER HIGH FIVE ()
Also – Its Electrifying N, I Aint No Mack, Trente Deo
14th – $9,500 Pace 1:53.4
9-Thunder Country (An Shetler) 8.12 5.62 2.70
5-Yankee Clout (Mi Whelan) 13.32 4.10
3-Avion Seelster (Da McNeight III) 2.10
EXACTA (9/5) $63.00
TRIFECTA (9/5/3) $82.99
SUPERFECTA (9/5/3/7) $117.07
JACKPOT SUPER HIGH FIVE ()
Scratched: Jm’s Delight
Also – Venier Hanover, Saulsbrook Ian, Egomania, Kilowatt Kid N, Dont Poke The Bear