The track had a definite front-end bias on Friday night (Oct. 7) at Batavia Downs and it was used to the advantage of both top trot winners who circled their respective fields while enhancing their bottom lines.
In the $15,000 Open I Handicap Trot, C R Blazin Beauty (pictured above) used her speed to dominate a scratch-shortened field of five and upset at 12-1.
Dave McNeight III shot off the wings with C R Blazin Beauty and then throttled down her four followers with a plodding pace that featured a :31 second quarter and 1:00 half. From there, C R Blazin Beauty had her breather and McNeight had the upper hand. With Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) on the move first up in the breeze past the half, McNeight hit the gas and bolted C R Blazin Beauty to a :28.3 third panel. He then took their 1-1/2-length lead at three-quarters and extended it to three at the top of the stretch and jogged home comfortably to victory in 1:58.
On the strength of her seventh win of the year and 48th victory lifetime, C R Blazin Beauty ($27.20) went over the $400,000 earnings mark for her career, now boasting $406,272 in the bank. The Marissa Russo-owned C R Blazin Beauty is trained by David Russo.
Next in the $14,000 Open II Handicap Trot, Gemini Eddie (Kevin Cummings) left from post four and cut the entire mile by a gapped advantage. After setting a solid tempo of :28.3, :59 and 1:28.3, Gemini Eddie turned for home and swelled up with a four-length lead at the light where he won in 1:58.
It was the second win since coming to Batavia for Gemini Eddie ($3.30) and the gelding hasn’t missed the board there in six starts for owner Mike Torcello and trainer Sammy Smith.
Kevin Cummings and Kyle Cummings both ended the night with three wins each to lead all drivers while 11 different trainers registered one win apiece.
Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Oct. 8) at 6 p.m.
(Batavia Downs)