Jan 7, 2023

Batavia Downs starts 2023 with a $17,500 guarantee Monday

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

(Photo of Jim McNeight Jr. prepping for the meet courtesy of Wendy Lowery)

It has been decades since Batavia Downs hosted a winter race meet at the oldest lighted harness track in North America, but that all changes on Monday (Jan. 9) when the 2023 harness racing season gets underway in Western New York. The 15-day session will run through Monday (Feb. 27) and operate on a Monday-Thursday schedule. Post time for each race day is set at 3 p.m.

All the Downs favorite local drivers and trainers will be back in action along with a host of ship-in talent, who already have a strong presence on day one. The wagering menu remains the same and will feature (on a 13-race card) five Doubles, 13 Exactas, 13 Trifectas, 12 Superfectas, two Pick-3’s, two Pick-4’s, one Pick-5 and one Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta.

“I am happy to have Batavia Downs host a live winter racing meet for the first time in over 20 years. And I was also very pleased with the trainer’s response to the first draw, with 127 horses entered for our opening day program. That card will feature two divisions of Open pacers and two divisions of Open trotters,” said Don Hoover, General Manager and Race Secretary at Batavia Downs.

“The 13th and final race of the day is a very competitive upper-level conditioned trot featuring a nine-horse field. It also has a $17,500 guaranteed pool in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta with a 20-cent minimum wager.”

That Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta had a carryover of $10,733 going into the final night of the 2022 season and was required to be paid out as it was the last card of the year. But when racing was canceled due to weather prior to that race, the carryover was moved to opening night of 2023 (Monday, January 9) and will again be offered as a “must pay”. But the pool has...

Friday’s “Lock” is at Cal Expo on race 04 with the #4-Divine Hope-Top form and speed-Should jog here. Gerald Longo drives.

Last Lock won again. The pick record is at 1030 of 1636 wins with 293 seconds and 111 thirds.

Place your wagers at IdaBet.com!

Friday 6^th January – Dubai World Cup Carnival 2023:

Tomorrow is the first meeting of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival – first race 9:00am ET.

Place your wagers at IdaBet.com!

There is a Late Pick 5 carryover of $189,194 heading into today’s card.

The sequence kicks off with Race 4 and an approximate post time of 2:16pm.

The 8 race card has a first post of 12:50pm.

Attached are the scratches and changes for today.

Remember to place your wagers at IdaBet.com!

Thursday’s “Lock” is at The Meadows on race 09 with the #6-Black Hope-Beaten fav wins today for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr.

Last Lock was 2nd making the pick record at 1029 of 1635 wins with 293 seconds and 111 thirds.

Remember to “lock” it up at IdaBet.com!

Jan 4, 2023

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, January 04, 2022)

Race 1: #8 Mister Arm, #7 Beauty Nova, #1 Win Win Charity, #10 Pride Of Dragon
Race 2: #11 Travel Glory, #2 M M Johnny, #10 Zacian, #1 Loriz
Race 3: #10 Noble Steed, #5 Right Honourable, #4 Eighteen Palms, #7 Legion Of Merit
Race 4: #9 Packing Monkeyking, #12 Concerto, #2 Rainbow Light, #3 Copartner Fionn
Race 5: #1 Act Of Faith, #4 Hercules, #2 Beauty Mission, #7 King Eccellente
Race 6: #1 Wind N Grass, #6 Yellowfin, #7 Goodluck Goodluck, #9 E Brother
Race 7: #8 Pachisi, #7 Faribault, #4 Juneau Flash, #3 Sergeant Pepper
Race 8: #12 E Legend, #1 Red Majesty, #4 Prince Alex, #3 Dynamic Spirit
Race 9: #3 Heroic Master, #4 Namjong Sings, #1 Beauty Charge, #9 Gold Gold Baby

Race 1: Yue Man Handicap

8 Mister Arm is racing well and does appear very close to a second win. He gets his chance here from an inside draw with Hugh Bowman taking the ride. #7 Beauty Nova was solid two runs ago over this course and distance. If he can reprise that form here then he should give a very good account of himself. #1 Win Win Charity steps down in grade. He’s drawn well and in this grade he should show sharp improvement. #10 Pride Of Dragon has been competitive this term. He should get a nice run throughout.

Race 2: Wai Yip Handicap

11 Travel Glory is edging towards a first win. He’s in career-best form at the minute and Karis Teetan’s riding style suits this horse very, very well. He gets another excellent chance here with the light weight. #2 M M Johnny narrowly missed last start after being well supported. Expect he’s held his condition between runs. #10 Zacian has been a money muncher across his career, however, he does still know how to put a solid run on the board without winning. Keep safe. #1 Loriz makes the class drop. He’s a threat.

Race 3: Tsun Yip Handicap (1st Section)

10 Noble Steed is...