{"id":46238,"date":"2023-08-25T23:55:40","date_gmt":"2023-08-26T03:55:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=46238"},"modified":"2023-08-25T23:56:07","modified_gmt":"2023-08-26T03:56:07","slug":"genesee-county-morrill-sweeps-features-at-batavia-downs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2023\/08\/25\/genesee-county-morrill-sweeps-features-at-batavia-downs\/","title":{"rendered":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Morrill sweeps features at Batavia Downs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Batavia, NY \u2014 The trotters were on full display under the Friday night (Aug. 25) lights at Batavia Downs but the spotlight fell directly on driver Jim Morrill Jr., who choreographed the journeys of the winners of the top two events.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the $15,000 Open I Handicap trot, Morrill put Makadushin N Cheez on the point and then sat chilly for the next eight furlongs. Makadushin N Cheez put up easy fractions of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:26.4 before taking his 3-\u00bd length lead into the last turn. Morrill stayed reclined behind Makadushin N Cheez as Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) tried to employ his patented late rally in the stretch. But there would be no change in the order this week as Makadushin N Cheez just cruised across the line in 1:56. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was the 23rd lifetime win in only the 67th lifetime start for the high percentage Makadushin N Cheez ($5.30) who is owned by Joe D\u2019 Agostino, Molly D\u2019Agostino, Phillip Kadushin and David Dewhurst, who also trains the winner.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the undercard $13,000 Open II trot, Morrill took no prisoners with Mugshots Bro, who grabbed an early lead and maintained a 1-\u00bd length lead to three-quarters. CR Blazin Beauty (Dave McNeight III) and Good Boy (Ray Fisher Jr.) tried their best to catch the leader around the last turn, but when Mugshots Bro hit the top of the stretch, he bolted home to a 3-\u00be length victory in a seasonal best 1:57.1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mugshots Bro ($3.90) is owned by Herman Niedhammer and Herman Niedhammer Jr. and is trained by Rose Russo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morrill ended the night with a total of three wins on the strength of his natural hat trick in races eight, nine and ten, but Dave McNeight III led all reinsmen with a grand slam. Also, trainers Rose Russo and Lee Dahn both scored doubles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest win mutuel of the year so far occurred in race four when Coco Hall (Jim McNeight Jr.) out-trotted the heavily favored Crews Hilltopper (Jim Morrill Jr.) to the line by a head in 1:59.3 and paid $129.00 to win. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 26) at 6 p.m. there will be a $7,322 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta in the 15th race. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also on Saturday, Batavia Downs will host its richest card of racing this summer when a total of $467,400 in purses will be up for grabs. The card features both colt and filly divisions of New York Sire Stake and Excelsior 3-year-old trotters with total purses of $294,900 and the $75,000 Kane Memorial Invitational Pace, which is Batavia Downs signature race. Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs\u2019 website (bataviadownsgaming.com<\/a>) under the \u201cLive Racing\u201d tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs (Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery) Batavia, NY \u2014 The trotters were on full display under the Friday night (Aug. 25) lights at Batavia Downs but the spotlight fell directly on driver Jim Morrill Jr., who choreographed the journeys of the winners of the \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46239,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8],"tags":[376],"class_list":["post-46238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-batavia","tag-batavia-downs"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-c1M","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":47374,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2023\/09\/30\/genesee-county-makadushin-n-cheez-wires-field-in-batavia-open\/","url_meta":{"origin":46238,"position":0},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Makadushin N Cheez wires field in Batavia Open","author":"aka","date":"September 30, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs (Photos courtesy of Wendy J. 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Lowery) Batavia, NY \u2014 After making his last three starts without a win at Saratoga Raceway, Makadushin N Cheez found his way back to western New York and picked up where he left off, winning the $15,000 Open I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Makadushin-N-Cheez-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Makadushin-N-Cheez-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Makadushin-N-Cheez-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Makadushin-N-Cheez-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Makadushin-N-Cheez-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48135,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2023\/11\/05\/genesee-county-morrill-wins-five-including-both-batavia-features\/","url_meta":{"origin":46238,"position":2},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Morrill wins five including both Batavia features","author":"aka","date":"November 5, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs (Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery) Batavia, NY \u2014 Jim Morrill Jr. had a huge night in the bike at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Nov. 4) as he won five races that included both features and a natural hat trick in races nine, 10\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/E-Street-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C681&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/E-Street-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C681&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/E-Street-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C681&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/E-Street-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C681&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47151,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2023\/09\/22\/genesee-county-lougazi-surpasses-500000-with-batavia-feature-win\/","url_meta":{"origin":46238,"position":3},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Lougazi surpasses $500,000 with Batavia feature win","author":"aka","date":"September 22, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs (Photos courtesy of Wendy J. 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Lowery) Batavia, NY \u2014 Prior to the start of racing on Saturday night (Nov. 11) at Batavia Downs, members of the the local driver, trainer, groom and owner colony gathered trackside for a moment of silence to remember and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Tioga-Tribute-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Tioga-Tribute-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Tioga-Tribute-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C682&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Tioga-Tribute-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C682&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48562,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2023\/11\/25\/genesee-county-johnny-boy-upsets-top-trot-morrill-wins-five-at-batavia\/","url_meta":{"origin":46238,"position":5},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Johnny Boy upsets top trot, Morrill wins five at Batavia","author":"aka","date":"November 25, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs (Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery) Batavia, NY \u2014 After bouncing back from an untimely break last week and despite a jump in class for this start, Johnny Boy got back in the win column by taking the $15,000 Open I Handicap trotting feature\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Johnny-Boy-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C681&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Johnny-Boy-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C681&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Johnny-Boy-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C681&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Johnny-Boy-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C681&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Makadushin-N-Cheez-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C681&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46238"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46238\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46242,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46238\/revisions\/46242"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46239"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}