Driver Jim Morrill Jr. frequented the winner’s circle at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 29), winning six races on the card, including a natural hat trick in races five through seven and landing on the board in the 13 starts he drove.
Morrill’s top victory came in the co-featured $14,000 Open I Handicap Trot where Credit List led at every station to claim his sixth win of the year.
Leaving from post 6, Credit List was on the point by 1-1/2 lengths at the :29.3 quarter and never looked back from there. With BJ Laredo tracking closest behind in the pocket and absolutely no opposition coming from behind, Credit List floated to the half in :58.4 and three-quarters in 1:27.4 before rounding the last turn and trotting away by 1-1/2 lengths under wraps to win in 1:57.1.
Credit List is owned by Room4040 LLC Stables and trained by Kevin Reynolds. He returned $4.20 to win.
Morrill also won with Deputy Seelster (1:57 winning mile, $5.30 to win), Silver Arrow (1:56, $3.70), Prairie Panther (1:54.3, $3.70), Inquiring Mind (1:57.3, $4.20) and Beach Fire K (1:55, $3.90).
Morrill also had four second places and three third places, giving him a lofty .709 UDR for the evening. Saturday’s six wins moved him to 99 for the meet, now just six behind the leading Kevin Cummings who won two races himself tonight (Oct. 29) and now has 105 wins during this session.
Later in the other featured Open I Handicap Pace, Just Plain Loco, driven by Dave McNeight III, found himself starting from pylon position and took full advantage of his infrequent visit to the far-left wing. Flaunting his noted gate speed, Just Plain Loco flew to the front while the rest of the field fell in line behind in post position order. After the leader set a tepid :58.4 half, Morrill came first-up with Out On Bail and drew alongside the pocket-sitting Stratosphere, causing Just Plain Loco to pick up the tempo and reach the three-quarters in :28.4 to rebuff the outside challenger before turning for home and pulling away by three lengths in a :27.3 final panel and winning in 1:55.1.
The eighth win of the year pushed Just Plain Loco over the century mark in earnings for 2022, now boasting $102,170 in the bank for owners Paul Lang and Mark Toth. This was one of three winners on the night for trainer Jennifer Giuliani, who led all her conditioning peers in winner's circle visits. Just Plain Loco paid $3.30 to win.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 5) at 6 p.m. (EDT); another carryover will be available. The Jackpot Hi-5 Pentafecta in the 13th race will start with $1,666 in the pool.
(Batavia Downs)