By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)
Batavia, NY — A pair of $13,500 Open class races topped the card at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 29) night and both events included big miles with exciting finishes.
First in the Open trot, Seventier (Brett Macdonald) came from off the pace to score his tenth win of the year.
Seventier got away fourth as the heavily favored Shine All The Way (Dave McNeight III) led from the start while posting quarters of :28.4, :59 and 1:27.4, with Treasured Tee (Drew Monti) drafting in the pocket. As they motored towards turn four, Macdonald had pulled Seventier and was motoring up the rim, making his way to second at the top of the stretch and only a length behind the leader. When they straightened for home, Shine All The Way was under moderate urging and looked strong. But Seventier was loose under a line-driver in the middle of the track and motored to the front by one-half length and won in 1:56.2.
It was the third win in a row and fourth win at Batavia for Seventier ($5.04), who is owned by El Dorado Stable and Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith.
Then in the $13,500 Open Handicap pace, Lip Reader A (Drew Monti) also took an early tuck in advance of a late surge to win his first of the meet at The Downs.
Lip Reader A settled in third behind Shoobee Doo A (Gareth Dowse) while post time chalk Moved Bythe Spirit (Shawn Gray) laid down speedy splits of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:25.3 as the top three positions never changed to that point. But also at that point, Monti tipped Lip Reader A and started the advance to the front, By the time the group moved through the last turn, Lip Reader A drew even with Moved Bythe Spirit and Shoobee Doo A was poised to enter the fray in the passing lane. The three pacers battled into deep stretch where Lip Reader A got the advantage and the win in 1:54.1.
Lip Reader A ($15.80) scored his sixth win of the year and went over $400,000 in lifetime earnings ($406,016) for owners Vogel and Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing. Maria Rice was the winning trainer.
Driver Shawn Gray was red hot again on Saturday, getting another grand slam in the bike. Gray won with Kid From The Bronx (1:55.4, $2.64), Just Zip It (1:56.2, $4.38), Avion Seelster (1:54.2, $5.54) and Santana Beach (1:56.4, $28.22), who scored his 62nd lifetime win.
Trainers Maria Rice, Dave McNeight Jr. and Sam Smith all had two wins apiece.
Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Sept. 2) with a final visit by the New York Sire Stakes that will feature one field of 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings vying for $115,500 in purse money.
Also please note that post time has once again been moved up to 4 p.m. for Wednesday and there will be a $1,217 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 29, 2026
1st – $5,000 Pace 1:55.4
5-Kid From The Bronx (Sh Gray) 2.64 2.32 2.16
3-Stabler (An Monti) 8.32 5.28
4-Grand Ole Party (Jo Cummings Jr) 4.40
EXACTA (5/3) $9.71
TRIFECTA (5/3/4) $30.08
Scratched: Hes Got Swagger
Also – Daylight Rush, Dogfight, Major Authority, Bolt Power
2nd – $6,500 Pace 1:55.3
1-Handsoffmytitos (Ky Cummings) 16.96 8.70 7.10
4-Egomania (Ke Cummings) 6.56 5.66
2-Carrythetorchman (Da Yetman) 10.88
EXACTA (1/4) $27.78
TRIFECTA (1/4/2) $61.89
SUPERFECTA (1/4/2/5) $61.00
EARLY DOUBLE (5/1) $11.30
Also – Final Game, Fantome En Joie, Theymakeusbetter, Da Ghetto Wizard, Helsinki
3rd – $5,000 Pace 1:56.2
2-Just Zip It (Sh Gray) 4.38 3.28 2.46
4-Hold My Halo (Jo Cummings Jr) 5.66 3.62
5-Justine (Sh McDonough) 7.22
EXACTA (2/4) $17.27
TRIFECTA (2/4/5) $48.11
SUPERFECTA (2/4/5/7) $58.11
Also – Obsessed With Lou, Bettor B Sawyer, Beautiful Lights, Anurka, Bolt Of Beauty
4th – $9,500 Trot 1:58.3
4-Star Pilot (Br Macdonald) 4.56 2.48 2.10
2-Skyway Professor (Wa Tomaszewski) 4.88 2.38
6-Munk (Da McNeight III) 2.64
EXACTA (4/2) $8.66
TRIFECTA (4/2/6) $11.85
SUPERFECTA (4/2/6/3) $25.54
Also – Claiborne, Security Code S, Amigo Mio, Mass Market
5th – $9,500 Pace 1:54.2
2-Avion Seelster (Sh Gray) 5.54 4.08 2.10
4-Soul Assassin (Ke Cummings) 4.90 2.26
1-Venier Hanover (An Monti) 2.10
EXACTA (2/4) $11.34
TRIFECTA (2/4/1) $12.82
SUPERFECTA (2/4/1/3) $11.90
DAILY DOUBLE (4/2) $6.09
PICK 5 (5,8/1/2/4/2) $107.85
Scratched: Smooth Lou
Also – Dance Machine, Premier Dreamer, Double Up N, Woodmere Rollnpop, Ideal Perfect Ten
6th – $13,500 Trot 1:56.2
4-Seventier (Br Macdonald) 5.04 3.66 2.76
1-Shine All The Way (Da McNeight III) 2.78 2.16
3-Treasured Tee (An Monti) 4.02
EXACTA (4/1) $4.48
TRIFECTA (4/1/3) $10.01
SUPERFECTA (4/1/3/6) $10.38
PICK 4 (2/4/2/4) $23.30
Also – Valentine Express, Dougadougadew, Fiftyfour K
7th – $13,500 Pace 1:54.1
3-Lip Reader A (An Monti) 15.80 4.98 2.54
1-Shoobee Doo A (Ga Dowse) 5.66 2.28
2-Moved Bythe Spirit (Sh Gray) 2.10
EXACTA (3/1) $37.18
TRIFECTA (3/1/2) $23.22
SUPERFECTA (3/1/2/5) $113.11
Also – I Aint No Mack, Davey Day Trader, Luck Is Up, Trente Deo
8th – $6,500 Pace 1:57.0
5-Snouze U Louze (De Bucceri) 14.00 6.44 4.90
3-Andrews Ideal (Br Macdonald) 11.88 6.86
4-Dry Ridge Ace (Jo Cummings Jr) 16.76
EXACTA (5/3) $46.67
TRIFECTA (5/3/4) $259.16
SUPERFECTA (5/3/4/6) $952.65
Also – Thatswhatsup, My Mind Is Madeup, Pepper Guy, Contact Zone, Cumulus Bb
9th – $11,000 Trot 1:57.2
1-Cool Clifford (Da McNeight III) 7.30 3.46 2.28
2-Spanish Room (An Shetler) 3.98 2.66
4-Crazy Ritz (Ja McNeight Jr.) 2.76
EXACTA (1/2) $9.16
TRIFECTA (1/2/4) $23.83
SUPERFECTA (1/2/4/5) $34.21
DAILY DOUBLE (5/1) $36.25
Also – Mister Squeeze, Double Class, Uncle Archie, Infinity Stone
10th – $5,000 Pace 1:56.4
4-Santana Beach (Sh Gray) 28.22 8.62 4.32
3-Skyline Blue Chip (Da McNeight III) 3.54 2.60
2-Street Art (An Monti) 2.42
EXACTA (4/3) $41.98
TRIFECTA (4/3/2) $32.06
SUPERFECTA (4/3/2/6) $44.57
PICK 4 (3/5/1/4) $6.81
Also – Twenty Five, Examiner Hanover, Four Finger Floyd, Mcwinner, Target Aquired
11th – $12,200 Pace 1:55.0
2-Thunder Country (An Shetler) 3.10 2.62 2.24
5-Total Stranger (Jo Cummings Jr) 3.74 3.92
6-Lyons Surfing (An Monti) 2.82
EXACTA (2/5) $18.19
TRIFECTA (2/5/6) $29.55
SUPERFECTA (2/5/6/1) $19.63
DAILY DOUBLE (4/2) $36.38
PICK 3 (1/4/2) $114.75
Also – Beach Choice, Bold Speed, Winmebak
12th – $9,500 Trot 1:58.4
5-Whats The Point (Da McNeight III) 17.14 7.94 4.50
7-Said N Done As (An Monti) 6.78 3.64
4-Crazy Fool (Ky Cummings) 2.58
EXACTA (5/7) $65.29
TRIFECTA (5/7/4) $71.47
SUPERFECTA (5/7/4/3) $36.54
Scratched: Biscoe
Also – Chapter Twelve, Allsummerlong As, Bluemoon Glide
13th – $8,000 Pace 1:57.1
2-Viva Las Vegas N (Ke Cummings) 9.16 4.62 2.78
1-Northern Rein (Wa Tomaszewski) 17.14 7.40
9-Fox Valley Cayman (An Monti) 4.64
EXACTA (2/1) $66.19
TRIFECTA (2/1/9) $165.33
SUPERFECTA (2/1/9/1-9) $71.89
LATE DOUBLE (5/2) $36.00
PICK 3 (2/5/2) $103.57
JACKPOT SUPER HIGH FIVE ()
Also – Long Shot Buckets, Thor De Vie, D A Magic Mike, Mc Man, Bryant Seelster, Sugar Shock