Taking advantage of a perfect trip, Johnny Boy brushed late to capture the $15,000 Open I Handicap trotting feature at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Aug. 18).
Kevin Cummings settled Johnny Boy in behind the headstrong Con Air Hall (Jim Morrill Jr.), who got to the quarter in :28.2. Con Air Hall then slowed the half to :58.2, forcing Mr Contestant (Keith Kash Jr.) to advance first-over from fourth at that station. As the horses trotted past three-quarters, Mr Contestant’s bid fell apart and it appeared to be down to the top two trotters. Coming off the turn, Con Air Hall was in the middle of the track while Johnny Boy slipped into the passing lane in full stride. But from far back, Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) was trotting up a storm and joined the leaders for the stretch run. Johnny Boy took the lead just before the line before Lougazi could reach and the five-year-old Uncle Peter gelding won by one-half length in 1:57.4.
The win was the sixth of the year in 27 starts for Johnny Boy ($17), who is trained by Sam Smith and owned by Mike Torcello.
Johnny Boy was one of four winners for Cummings on Friday night.
Earlier, the $12,500 Open II Trot went to J S Hopscotch, who led the entire race and then hung on in the final strides.
J S Hopscotch (Kyle Cummings) left from post one and controlled the clock from there. With Mugshots Bro (Jim Morrill Jr.) sitting on his back, J S Hopscotch set fractions of :29.2, 1:00.3 and 1:29.3 with only a mild bid from I Got The Looks (Dan Yetman) during the third quarter. By the time the trotters got halfway through the last turn, J S Hopscotch and Mugshots Bro had separated from the field. J S Hopscotch was still in front but Mugshots Bro was closing fast and drew alongside him in deep stretch. With both drivers fully engaged in their urging, J S Hopscotch and Mugshots Bro hit the wire simultaneously, leaving it to the camera to reveal that J S Hopscotch closed the deal by a nose in 1:58.4.
J S Hopscotch ($3.30) got his seventh win of the year from 30 starts for owner Rags To Riches of Pa and trainer Tammy Cummings.
It was also the second win of the night for Kyle Cummings.
When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m., there will be a $4,816 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta in the 13th race. Free full past performance programs for every live card of 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 for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
(With files from Batavia Downs)