Trainer John Sullivan is a regular at the Meadows Racetrack, but the Rochester, New York native visited his old stomping grounds on Saturday night (August 6) and left with the winner’s share of the $10,000 purse after winning the Open Pace at Batavia Downs with his classy veteran, Sam Hill.
If the race were a fight, they would have called it early after Kevin Cummings left with Sam Hill and put local top side-wheeler Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) in his place when he tried to leave against him. From there, Sam Hill called all the shots.
Sam Hill led and Fireyourguns was sitting second when they passed the half in :56.3, then Whosurpal (Todd Cummings) joined the party when he pulled from fifth and tried to challenge. But the best he could do was get within a loose length of the leader in the :28.3 third panel. From there, Kevin Cummings gave Sam Hill his head and he powered away to an easy two-length victory in 1:53.3. The time was the fastest pace of the 2016 meet to date.
The win was the fifth in 15 starts for Sam Hill ($5.10) and it pushed his earnings to $55,100 for the year. The 10-year-old Artsplace gelding now has 44 wins and $478,767 lifetime. Sam Hill is owned by Don Tiger.
In the co-featured $9,000 Open II Pace, the red hot Jim Graham Stable saw Closing Credits ($8.70) add to their win total as the six-year-old Rambaran gelding went wire-to-wire in 1:54.3 for driver Dave McNeight III. Closing Credits is owned by his trainer and the Cybo Stable Inc.
Drivers Dave McNeight III and Jack Flanigen both scored triples on the card, as did trainers Jim Graham and JD Perrin. Flanigen and Perrin teamed up to win the last three races of the night.
Racing resumes on Sunday afternoon (August 7) at Batavia Downs at 1:15 p.m. when the New York Sire Stakes three-year-old pacing colts and geldings invade the Genesee County oval to compete for $119,300 in purses.
(With files from Batavia Downs)