Batavia, NY — For the first time in two decades, Batavia Downs will hold their second opening day card of the year when the Genesee County oval welcomes back the horsemen, horsewomen, their horses and the fans for the 53-day summer/fall meet that starts on Wednesday (July 26) at 6 p.m. and runs through Saturday (Dec. 9). The earlier winter session set several betting records driven by competitive racing and the next 20 weeks promises to produce the same kind of results.

The opening night card Wednesday includes the first visit of the year by the New York Sire Stakes as the 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings will be on hand to compete in one division for a purse of $106,300. There will also be three Excelsior A races that will go for $20,000 each, bringing the total amount of loot up for grabs to $233,300 for that card.

Henry Wojtaszek, president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting and Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel, is excited to welcome racing back to the facility and is appreciative of the many fans that attend the track all season to watch the action in person.

“The excitement of live harness racing begins on Wednesday at the Downs for fans of photo finishes, daily doubles, and exotic wagers and it should  be an electrifying night of fun and entertainment. Our fans will be treated to competitive harness racing and great promotions that tie into our new remodeled Clubhouse, expansive gaming floor and the number one ranked hotel in Batavia. Our staff and those from New York State, will ensure a safe racing meet for drivers and equine athletes and we look forward to everyone joining us for live racing and all the fun that goes with it at the area’s premier entertainment destination,” said Wojtaszek.

The live schedule changes several times throughout the year. Opening week has racing only on Wednesday and Saturday. In August, the action switches to Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from August 1 to August 12 and changes to Wednesday, Friday, Saturday from August 16 through October 28. The lone exception is Friday (Sept. 8) which will be dark in lieu of a Labor Day matinee on Monday (Sept. 4). Then in November and December, racing cuts back to two days a week on Wednesday and Saturday through the close of the meet. Post time for all race days is 6 p.m., except the Labor Day matinee that will start at 1:15 p.m.

Once again there is a hearty slate of stake action courtesy of the New York Sire Stakes. The state-bred series will be in action on Wednesday (July 26), Tuesday (Aug. 1), Wednesday (Aug. 2), Tuesday (Aug. 8), Wednesday (Aug. 16), Saturday (Aug. 26) and Friday (Sept. 1).

There are  two notable nights of racing this year. The first is Saturday (Aug. 26) when both 3-year-old colt and filly divisions will be on the same card along with the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational pace, Batavia Down’s signature event. Then on Wednesday (Sept. 13), Batavia Downs was selected to host the NYSS Excelsior finals that will be contested for a total purse of $400,000.

The clubhouse will be open for all race dates and offer a varied menu. Every Saturday will feature a prime rib buffet while the other race nights will be catered by the Center Street Smokehouse. The Railbar will always  be open for live racing.

All the top drivers will be back including Jim Morrill Jr. and Kevin Cummings, who both had the distinction of becoming the first drivers to ever surpass the $1 million mark in earnings in a single meet at Batavia last year. Leading trainers Shawn McDonough, Jennifer Giuliani, Sam Smith, James Clouser Jr. and Dave Russo will also be back along with a host of others.

Don Hoover, Director of Live Racing and Race Secretary at Batavia Downs, is heading into his second year in those positions at the Downs and looks to build upon the successes of last year.

“Overall, I was pleased with the 2022 Summer/Fall live race meet and was pleasantly surprised by the success of the recently concluded January/February winter meet. I look forward to continuing that momentum into the upcoming 2023 Summer/Fall 53-day live race meet, highlighted by the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace and the $400,000 New York Sire Stakes Excelsior Finals,” said Hoover.

Bettors will have plenty of opportunities with a wagering menu that includes three Doubles, 10 Exactas, 10 Trifectas, nine Superfectas, two Pick-3’s, two Pick-4’s, one Pick-5 and one Jackpot Super High Five available on every 10-race card.

Patrons will also have plenty of promotions to look forward to.

On opening night there will be free programs in the grandstand and the Lotta Cash Giveaway where customers can deposit non-winning tickets wagered on Batavia Downs races for a chance to win two $250 betting vouchers and a Batavia Downs Gaming Play and Stay package that includes one night’s stay at the Batavia Downs Gaming Hotel, $25 in gaming Free Play and a $50 dinner certificate to Fortune’s.

Every Wednesday is the Play and Stay promotion where customers can deposit non-winning tickets wagered on Batavia Downs races for a chance to win a Batavia Downs Gaming Play and Stay package that includes one night’s stay at the Batavia Downs Gaming Hotel, $25 in gaming Free Play and a $50 dinner certificate to Fortune’s.

Then there’s the Wednesday Finale promotion where you get $25 gaming Free Play when you wager $25 on the last race at Batavia Downs.

Every Friday and Saturday offers Match Play Free Play Frenzy where you receive $25 gaming Free Play when you wager $25 at the same time on the same live Batavia Downs race. And there is also the Early Bird Daily Double, where you receive $10 in gaming Free Play when you wager at least $10 at the same time on the Early Daily Double. Plus every live racing program includes a $5 gaming Free Play coupon.

All promotions require participants be Players Club members and gaming Free Play is subject to required base points being earned before redemption. Full rules are available in the program.

You can watch all the live racing action for free on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel and free, full past performance programs for every live race night will be available on the Batavia Downs website under the live racing tab.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — The first winter meet hosted by Batavia Downs in over two decades will close out its 15-date run on Monday (Feb. 27) with a nine-race card starting at 3 p.m. The early season session has produced record-breaking handles for the track, but has also placed two of its regular drivers in lofty standings nationally among their peers.

Kevin Cummings is currently the fifth leading percentage driver in North America for all reignsmen starting under 300 times, boasting a .416 universal drive rating. And right behind him is Jim Morrill Jr. who ranks eighth in the same category with a .393 UDR. So it’s no surprise that the pair sits among the top in the Down’s standings where Morrill is first with a .466 and Cummings is third with a .416.

Morrill is not scheduled to drive on Monday but another local driving leader who will be on hand to close out the meet is Larry Stalbaum, who actually ranks second between Morrill and Cummings with a .465 UDR at Batavia this winter. Stalbaum also trains his owns horses and is the leading percentage conditioner this meet among those with 25 or more starts. His barn posted a stellar .593 UTR and produced 13 winners.

Cummings and Stalbaum will go head-to-head twice on Monday, most notably in the $13,000 Open I trot which is the featured race on the card. Stalbaum starts his own Inquiring Mind, who has a win and a second in his two Batavia starts and is the morning line favorite at 3-1. Cummings will sit behind Silver Buckeye, who just finished third in the $18,000 final of the Western New York Pop-Up Series. He will start from post one at 6-1.

The other match up comes in the co-featured $12,000 Trackmaster pacing event where Cummings has the 5-2 favored Ready Set Rock, who made her last start on November 30 in the $14,000 Distaff Open I. After two qualifiers at Batavia, Ready Set Rock will make her 2023 seasonal debut Monday. Stalbaum will sit behind Abuelita Hanover, who despite coming into this race with two consecutive convincing victories, has been overlooked in the morning line at 12-1. It’s noteworthy that Ready Set Rock and Abuelita Hanover are the only two mares among the field of eight.

Live racing will return to Batavia Downs on Wednesday (July 26) with a 53-date summer-fall meeting that will run through Saturday (Dec. 9).

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Hard work by Kim Crawford and his track crew put aside the effects of an overnight ice storm that negatively impacted a large swath of Western New York, and ensured that the Thursday afternoon (Feb. 23) card was held as scheduled. And despite sloppy conditions with intermittent freezing rain throughout the day, the card went off without a hitch.

Three $13,000 Open races topped the program along with many big payouts to the wagering public that rivaled those of the machines on the gaming floor.

It was ladies first as a field of seven top-class distaff pacers went postward with the public all over American Delight N (Jim Morrill Jr.) and the mare did not disappoint her supporters.

Morrill put American Delight N on the engine and never looked back. With Ball Diamond (Keith Kash Jr.) sitting in the garden spot, American Delight N set very even fractions of :29, :59.2 and 1:29 before entering turn four. Ball Diamond tipped to challenge at the head of the lane but couldn’t get the job done as American Delight N held sway to the line to win by a neck in a season’s best 1:58.1.

It was the second win of the year for American Delight N ($4.10) and owners Mike Deters and Joel Warner. Kevin Reynolds Jr. trains the winner.

Next came the Open male pacers and Out On Bail (Kevin Cummings) made his seasonal debut a winning one after a strong stretch drive.

A Game Changer (Deve McNeight III) fought hard against Lord Willoughby A (Winter Asher-Stalbaum) to get the lead but did so in a quick :27.4. A Game Changer slowed the pace a bit to the half in :57.4 and that prompted Out On Bail to pull first-over from fourth as they rolled past the grandstand. A Game Changer saw his lead diminish as they went up the backstretch and his opponent looked him in the eye around the last turn. Out On Bail and A Game Changer were even heading for home and matched strides as they approached the wire. Out On Bail got the advantage late and scored by one-half length in 1:58.1.

Out On Bail ($6.40) is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Sammy Smith.

Then the top trotters took the stage with Cummings and Smith teaming up again with another Torcello-owned charge, Gemini Eddie, who turned a Northfield tightener into a Batavia victory.

Leaving from post seven, Credit List (Jim Morrill Jr.) out-muscled the pylon-starting Embrace The Rust (Jim McNeight Jr.) and crossed-over at the quarter in :30.1. Positions of the top two remained unchanged for the next half mile until they were joined by Gemini Eddie, who made a three-wide move from fifth at three-quarters and made his way to second in the last turn. Gemini Eddie hooked up with Credit List at the top of the stretch and the two trotted in tandem all the way to the light where Gemini Eddie got the advantage and won by one-quarter length in 2:00.2.

It was the 27th lifetime win for the high-percentage Gemini Eddie ($8.20) who has finished in the money 55% of the time during his career.

The off-going also provided a host of longshot payoffs throughout the card. The 50-cent Pick-5 combination of 3,8-7-3-5-2 returned $2,237.50 in the fifth race, a win by the 26-1 SBD Corazon (Denny Bucceri) resulted in a $55.00 win mutuel and $1,209.40 price for the 20-cent superfecta combination of 5-4-6-1 in the seventh race and in the final contest of the night, Mean Irene (Kyle Cummings) upset at 16-1 for a win payout of $35.80, a one dollar 6-9-1-2 superfecta prize of $4,553.50 and a one dollar trifecta of 6-9-1 that paid $1,335.50.

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb. 27) at 3 p.m. there will be a $461 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta in the ninth race. Monday is also the final card of racing for the 2023 winter meet.

Free full card past performance forms for the entire card of live racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Four finals of the Western New York Pop-Up Series headlined the card at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb. 20) with a total of $63,000 distributed between those events.

In the $12,000 Trackmaster 70 pace, Ellieonthemove (Kevin Cummings) struck an early lead and maintained that position for the duration of the mile. After setting quarters of :29 :59.3 and 1:29.1, Ellieonthemove paced home on top by 1-¼ lengths in 1:59 flat.

Ellieonthemove ($4.50) scored her first win of the year for owner Sidney Easton and trainer Tony Cummings.

Next up was the $15,000 Trackmaster 74 pace and Bettor Country (Kevin Cummings) tripped-out to victory.

Kissinbythebeaches (Keith Kash Jr.) got the lead heading into turn two but led unchallenged for only a short time. Blazing Light (Kyle Cummings) pulled first up at three-eighths and Bettor Country was right on his back. Blazing Light had the lead passing the 1:27.3 three-quarters with Bettor Country still in pursuit. Down the lane, Bettor Country had more pace and won by a length in 1:57.3.

It was the second straight win for Bettor Country ($11.20) who is owned by Rocco Stebbins and trained by Joe Skowyra.

The $18,000 Trackmaster 78 pace produced an upset when Reggiano (Dave McNeight III) turned an early move into a 15-1 payoff.

Candy’s Desire (Kyle Cummings) was parked out to the quarter in 28 flat before claiming the front in the first turn. Almost immediately, Reggiano was tipped from third and rushed to the lead, cutting the half in :56.4. Reggiano continued to dictate the pace under duress but held off the pack to the top of the lane. There, Reggiano paced away clear by 1-¾ lengths in 1:55.2.

It was the second win of 2023 for Reggiano ($30.00) and owner/trainer Marc Shuttleworth.

Finally in the lone trot of the series for $18,000 Trackmaster 77 entrants, Good Boy (Ray Fisher Jr.) strung his third consecutive victory in convincing style.

Fisher put Good Boy right on the point while Schickel Fritz (Keith Kash Jr.) got parked out the whole mile. Good Boy trotted smart to the half in :59.4 and three-quarters in 1:29.4 as the field backed-up three-wide behind him. Good Boy rounded the final bend in complete control and pulled away to a 1-½ length win in 1:59.3.

It was the fourth win of the year for Good Boy ($3.60) and owner Mary Warriner. Ryan Swift trains the winner.

All four series final winners took new seasonal marks.

The Jackpot Super Hi-5 was hit in the last race on Monday. The combination of 4-5-8-3-6 returned $3,985.40 for a 20-cent wager.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Feb. 23) at 3 p.m. Free full card past performance forms for the entire card of live racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — A substantial class hike made punters overlook Who’s Got The Move’s convincing 4-½ length victory from just last week and their wagering discard provided big dividends for those who came back for more as Who’s Got The Move repeated and won the $9,500 co-features pace at Batavia Downs on Thursday afternoon (2-16) at 39-1.

Who’s Got The Move (Dave McNeight III) got away a gapped fourth as Late Night Date A (Ray Fisher Jr.) scooted along to fast early fractions of :28.3 and :57.4. As the single-file field rounded into turn three, McNeight tipped Who’s Got The Move first-over and drew even with Late Night Date A by three-quarters. After matching strides around the last bend, Who’s Got The Move took the lead at the top of the stretch and then held off a late closing Tobin’s Diva (Keith Kash Jr.) to win by one-half length in 1:56.3.

After going winless in 2022, Who’s Got The Move ($80.50) now has two tallies this year for owners Richard and Lynn Fisher — Lynn also does the training. Who’s Got The Move also went over $200,000 in lifetime earnings as a result of the victory, now boasting $201,870 in the bank.

The other $9,500 pace was won by Brave World (Kevin Cummings) who didn’t surprise anyone after winning at prohibitive odds.

Cummings took no prisoners and grabbed a lead he would never relinquish. After going :29.1, :58.1 and 1:26.3, Brave World turned for home on top by 1-¾ lengths and held on by a mere head over Long Legged John (Keith Kash), who made a valiant stretch run before coming up just short.

It was also the second win in a row — and third in his last four — for Brave World ($3.90) and owner Mike Torcello. Sammy Smith trained the winner.

Cummings ended the day with four winners overall.

The finals of the Western New York Pop-Up series will be held when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb. 20). The four finals will offer purses ranging from $12,000 to $18,000 while the four consolation races will go for  between $7,000 and $10,000 each. Spots in both were secured by the top money earners in each Trackmaster category.

Also on Monday there will be a $2,285 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta which will be available in race 11.

Free full card past performance forms for the entire card of live racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY— Driver Jim Morrill Jr. achieved another major milestone in his stellar career at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb.13) when he drove Sportskeeper ($4.70) to an easy gate to wire, 1:56.1 victory in the seventh race to achieve his 8,000^th lifetime win in the sulky. Morrill would also win with Gorgeous View (1:58.3, $7.00) and Silver Buckeye (2:00.2, $8.40) for the hat trick to put an exclamation mark on his landmark day.

At the end of business Monday, Morrill had 42,173 starts with 8,002 wins, 6,594 seconds and 5,413 thirds and $112,388,888 in earnings for his tenure in the sport. That purse total puts him 21^st on the all-time earnings list among all drivers in North America. So far in 2023 Morrill has a UDR of .496 and sits in second among all drivers in North America with less than 300 starts so far this year. And at the current Batavia Downs meet, Morrill is the leading UDR driver (.496) and sits second for wins (22) and earnings ($135,240).

Morrill reached 7,500 wins just two years and three months ago in 2020 at Batavia and it only took him 1,850 starts to get those next 500 wins.

A native of Methuen, Massachusetts, Morrill had aspirations of playing in the National Hockey League after being a junior hockey star prior to his career in harness racing, and those who know him would attest he was good enough to achieve that goal. But Morrill chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and made his first driving start at Foxboro Park in 1984. The family’s operation eventually moved to Rosecroft Raceway where Morrill began getting many catch drives and soon found himself in high demand. In 1990 Morrill went to New York and started driving for Ray Schnittker and George Anthony at Yonkers Raceway and with all the success he had there, decided that move would be long term.

During his time competing on the Metropolitan circuit, Morrill recalled his most memorable race as being the 2004 Meadowlands Pace where Holborn Hanover was a 58-1 upset winner in 1:49 to equal the stake mark. Among his other notable wins are three Breeders Crown finals with See You At Peelers, Won The West and Yellow Diamond and the 2012 Yonkers Trot with Archangel.

After 15 years of driving at the highest level of competition, Morrill left the big city in 2005 and relocated his family and business to western New York. And since arriving on scene there has not only been at the very top of the local driver colony, but also became a dominant force in the New York Sire Stakes.

In 2006 at Batavia Downs, Morrill set the all-time driving standard with 177 wins and a UDR of .537 for one meet. He also co-holds the track mark for most driving wins on one card (seven) and just last year, became the first driver to ever surpass $1 million in purse earnings in a single season at Batavia Downs.

The fourth and final preliminary leg of the Western New York Pop-Up Series was also held on Monday with several horses staking their claim to be favored in the finals that will be held next Monday (Feb. 20).

In the $9,000 Trackmaster 78 pace, Faithful Desire (Kevin Cummings) won for the third straight time, and her sixth out of the last seven at Batavia going back to last year.  It was a hard-fought victory that saw this lone mare in the field by a nose and pay $5.50. Eva Saintcross owns the Shawn McDonough-trained winner.

Then in the $7,500 Trackmaster 74 pace, Blazing Light (Kyle Cummings) won for the third straight time and again in convincing fashion. This week it was a six length, 1:57.3 romp for the driver-owned gelding trained by Tammy Cumming. Blazing Light returned $2.70.

And in the $9,000 Trackmaster 77 trot, Good Boy (Ray Fisher Jr.) went gate to wire to claim his second straight win to go along with a pair of second place finishes in the series. Mary Warriner owns the $4.30 winner that is trained by Ryan Swift.

The Monday (Feb. 20) finals will offer purses ranging from $12,000 to $18,000 while the consolation races will go for $7,000 to $10,000 each. Spots in both will be secured by the top money earners in each Trackmaster category.

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Feb. 16) at 3 p.m. there will be a $1,686 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta which will be available in race 11.

Free full card past performance forms for the entire card of live racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — It was a warm and wet Thursday afternoon (Feb. 9) at Batavia Downs and despite the sun making a cameo appearance for a couple of races, the wet conditions may have contributed to only three favorites winning in 12 races on a day where big payouts were the norm.

The top trot was a $9,500 conditioned event that saw Explosive Leggs (Dan Yetman) capture his second straight win with an upset victory.

Overlooked at 13-1 from a pylon start, the newly claimed Explosive Leggs played hardball with Con Air Hall (Dave McNeight III) and Inquiring Mind (Larry Stalbaum), parking both to the quarter in :28.3. Inquiring Mind ultimately cleared giving Explosive Leggs the pocket ride, while Con Air Hall was left out in the breeze. The race went to the half in :58.2 and three-quarters in 1:28.4 with Inquiring Mind amassing a three-length advantage heading into turn four. However in that bend, the leader began to falter and Explosive Leggs started to reel-in Inquiring Mind. At the top of the stretch the pair were even until Explosive Leggs started to pull away approaching the line, and eventually won by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:01.

It was the 35^th lifetime win for the 11-year-old Explosive Leggs ($29.20), but the first for his new connections, owner Lav Racing Stable and trainer Russel Bratt.

Yetman would light up the board again later in the card with a $27.80 win behind Barry Hanover in 1:56.4.

There was also a pair of $9,500 conditioned pacing races slated — divided by gender — and both double-digit payoff winners were trained and driven by Larry Stalbaum.

In the fillies and mares split, Abuelita Hanover got away fourth as American Delight N (Kyle Cummings) spearheaded fractions of :29.2, :59.4 and 1:29.1 through three-quarters. It was passing that last station where Stalbaum made a three-wide move from fifth with Abuelita Hanover and eventually drew even with the leader straightening for home. Down the lane, Abuelita Hanover cruised to the light under a hand-drive from Stalbaum to win by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:58.4.

It was the second straight win for Abuelita Hanover ($15.80) as well, who is owned by Jennifer Safford.

Then later in the boy’s division, Stalbaum got away fifth with Black Hawk Joe A while Bluesville (Dave McNeight III) looked a confident leader at the half in :59.4. Black Hawk Joe A, who had moved to the outside just past the quarter, came calling early on the outside and got within a length of Bluesville at the five-eighths. But despite Stalbaum’s incessant rocking to urge him on, Black Hawk Joe A stalled around the last turn and lost some ground to the leader. As they straightened out for home it appeared Bluesville was clear to the wire until Black Hawk Joe A found new foot in the lane, made up the 1-1/2 length deficit and won by one-half length in 1:57.1.

It was also the second win in a row for Black Hawk Joe A ($11.00) who Stalbaum also owns.

Stalbaum finished the day as the leading driver with three wins in the bank and leading trainer with two wins on the card.

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb. 13) at 3 p.m. there will be a $1,086 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta which will be available in race 13.

Free full card past performance forms for the entire card of live racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab. And all the racing action can be viewed as it happens at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — It was just last week that Batavia Downs set its own handle bar higher after seeing $340,602 pass through betting portals both at the track and at simulcast outlets. That total became the highest on record since Western Regional Off Track Betting reopened the Downs in 2002. However on Monday (Feb. 6) — only one week later — that record was broken again after $348,205 was wagered on the very competitive third leg card made up of 12 divisions of Western New York Pop-Up Series participants that put on quite a show on the track.

The $9,000 Trackmaster 78 pace class was led by Faithful Desire (Kevin Cummings) who flexed her muscle as the only mare among the field of seven.

Faithful Desire tracked Catch A Lefty A (Dan Yetman) from third as the leader set quarters of :28.4 and :58.2. It was at that second station that Cummings tipped Faithful Desire into the breeze and blew right to the front before they got halfway through turn three. From there, Faithful Desire opened up a 3-1/2 length lead by three-quarters and extended that margin to six at the top of the stretch. From there, the mare cruised home under wraps to a 6-1/4 length victory in 1:55.4.

It was the fifth win in the last six starts for Faithful Desire ($3.20) at Batavia Downs going back to last year. Eva Saintcross owns the Shawn McDonough trained daughter of Real Desire- Faith Ann.

Cummings finished the day with a total of three wins in the bike.

The fastest $9,000 Trackmaster 77 trot of the day was registered by Seven Credits (Drew Monti) who pulled off a major upset at 25-1.

Seven Credits got away tardy and was in arrears by 7-1/4 lengths to Windsun Missile (Keith Kash) who was merrily rolling along at the half in :59 flat. As the race moved past the five-eighths, Cash N Chrome (Jim McNeight Jr.) shifted to the outside and provided live cover for Seven Credits, who followed intently as the pair gained ground on the leader. Cash N Chrome took the lead from Windsun Missile going by the three-quarters and Seven Credits continued to make up ground before drawing even with Cash N Chrome in mid-stretch. From there Seven Credits had the momentum and out-trotted  Cash N Chrome to the line and won by a neck in 1:59.4.

Seven Credits ($52.50) is owned by Jennifer Signor and is trained by Jason Signor.

The fourth leg of the Western New York Pop-Up Series will be held next Monday (Feb. 13) with the finals and consolations scheduled for the following Monday (Feb. 20). The finals will offer purses ranging from $12,000 to $18,000 while the consolation races will go for between $7,000 to $10,000. Spots in both will be secured by the top money earners in each Trackmaster category.

Driver Ray Fisher Jr. also had a hot hand on Monday getting a hat trick of his own during the afternoon.

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Feb. 9) at 3 p.m. there will be a $300 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta which will be available in race 12.

Free full card past performance forms for the entire card of live racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Kevin Cummings, who was Batavia Downs’ leading driver of 2022, moved back into first place for dash victories in 2023 after winning six of the 11 races programmed on Thursday afternoon (Feb.2) including winning five in a row from race three to race seven.

Cummings won with Outkast Blue Chip (1:59.1, $6.50), Finkle Is Einhorn (2:00.3, $4.90), Explosive Leggs (2:03, $4.90), JK Lady Star (1:58.4, $5.80), American Delight N (1:58.3, $3.60) and Coco Hall (2:00.4, $2.80).

Cummings now has 21 wins for the meet and moved past Jim Morrill Jr. (20) back into the top spot.

A pair of $9,500 mid-level conditioned races were featured on Thursday’s card with one written for each gait.

In the pace, All About Lynx (Christian Meyers) followed Feelin American (Lee Morris) from the start until the seven-eighths pole where he tipped and brushed to the wire as a one-half length victor in 1:57.1.

After three straight second place finishes at Batavia, All About Lynx ($18.80) got his first victory of 2023 for owner Dale Wareham and trainer Kris Rickert. It was also the first win of the year at Batavia for the 20-year-old Meyers.

Then in the trot, Buzz (Mike Baumeister) cut the mile while setting fractions of :29, 1:00 and 1:29.3 with no real threat from behind. Down the lane, the pocket-sitting Mystical Sarabi (Dan Yetman) tried to catch him but came up three-quarters of a length short as Buzz won in 1:59.3.

It was the second win in a row for Buzz ($7.70) and owner/trainer Ron Baumeister.

Another young horseman getting his first ever driving and training win at Batavia Downs was 19-year-old Winter Asher-Stalbaum who led at every station with Lord Willoughby A. After getting the lead past the eighth pole, Lord Willoughby A was on top by as many as nine lengths and cruised home to victory in front by seven in 1:56.2. Asher-Stalbaum also owns Lord Willoughby A ($4.30).

The Jackpot Super Hi-5 in race 11 was finally hit and the sizable $2,582 carryover definitely helped the payout. The combination of 1-9-5-7-4 returned $3,711.10 for a 20-cent wager.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb. 6) at 3 p.m. Free full card past performance programs for the entire card of live racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab. And all the racing action can be viewed as it happens at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — It was an historic day for the oldest lighted harness track in North America on Monday (Jan. 30) after the bettors came out in force and pumped $340,602 through the windows (from all sources) on 13 races to set a new all-time single card betting mark at Batavia Downs. That total is the highest handle since Western Regional Off Track Betting reopened the Downs in 2002 and surpassed the old total of $339,000 which was realized over 14 races during the 2019 New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions finals.

“I’m very happy with today’s record handle, it was truly a team effort by the staff and horsemen and women here at Batavia Downs. Full, competitive fields and a cozy Monday afternoon off-track wagering slot were instrumental in these results,” said Don Hoover, Director of Live Racing and Race Secretary at Batavia Downs.

One of Monday’s driving factors was the $10,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick-5 race that kicked the day off in race one. There was $21,202 new money added to the $4,741 carryover and that spearheaded a total pool of $61,292 for that race alone. The winning combination of 3-5-3-3-1,2 returned $290.50 for the 50-cent wager.

The competitive races were a direct result of the resumption of the Western New York Trackmaster Pop-Up Series. There were 12 legs in this second round ranging in value from $6,000 to $9,000 each (depending on TM rating) and those races were very well matched.

In the $9,000 Trackmaster 78 for pacers, Faithful Desire (Kevin Cummings) followed the cover of Pocket Watch N (Ray Fisher Jr.) past the half, in pursuit of the front-running Sportskeeper (Jim Morrill Jr.). Faithful Desire remained third until the top of the stretch when Cummings tipped three-wide and then drove hard to the line to win by a neck in 1:56 flat in the fastest race of the day.

Faithful Desire ($8.90) is owned by Eva Saintcross and is trained by Shawn McDonough.

Cummings ended the day as the top reinsman with a total of four driving wins while McDonough would add a second winner later in the card.

In the other $9,000 Trackmaster 78, 33-1 shot Reggiano (Dave McNeight III) moved first-over from fourth after a very quick half set by Delightful Summer (Kevin Cummings) and made a three-wide move at three-quarters before clearing and pulling away to a two length victory in 1:57.

Reggiano ($68.00) is owned and trained by Marc Shuttleworth.

Later in the $9,000 Trackmaster 77 for trotters, Sanchez Rocks (Kyle Cummings) made it two straight in the series after he sat in the garden spot behind Good Boy (Ray Fisher Jr.) until the three-quarters, where he popped the deuce and went on the attack. Sanchez Rocks ran down Good Boy in deep stretch and then trotted clear by 2-1/4 lengths to win in 2:01.

Sanchez Rocks ($2.70) is owned by Marie Houghtaling and is trained by Ron Houghtaling.

There are two more weeks of preliminary action before the finals of the Pop-Up series which will be held on Monday (Feb. 20) and offer purses ranging from $12,000 to $18,000. Consolation races will also be offered and go for $7,000 to $10,000 each. Spots in both will be secured by the top money earners in each Trackmaster category.

Other participants registering multiple wins on the card included drivers Drew Monti and Kyle Cummings who each had a hat trick and trainers Tammy Cummings and Dave Russo who both had two winners.

When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Feb. 2) at 3 p.m. there will be a $2,582 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta which will be available in race 11.

Free full card past performance forms for the entire card of live racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs