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Aug 9, 2023

NYSS glamour division at Batavia Tuesday for $119,800 

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

(Photo courtesy of Ken Weingartner)

The most anticipated division of New York Sire Stake horses will be at Batavia Downs on Tuesday (Aug. 8). That’s when the 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings will assemble for one, $119,800 dash that headlines a 14-race card beginning at 6 p.m.

The track handicapper has given the nod to Metal Man as the early choice, a horse that has shown some great speed this year, but also inconsistency.

Metal Man (Huntsville-Apple Delight) was unraced at two, but started his 3-year-old season a winner in an overnight at the Meadowlands in 1:52.3. In his next start he broke and then was subsequently scratched in back-to-back races. He qualified back after five weeks off and then won back to back overnight races at Yonkers, one in 1:52.4 over the hilltop half mile. Since that time he has made consecutive breaks again and was forced to qualify on July 12. He just won his last outing in another overnight at Yonkers in 1:53.2, but he has yet to win a NYSS event.

Jim Morrill Jr. will be up behind Metal Man for the first time for trainer Travis Alexander and has drawn post five.

It’s A Me Mario (American Ideal-Nf Salsa) is one of only two horses in this race that has won a NYSS event this year and has already faced the best 3-year-olds in the country. After starting the year with four straight wins at Yonkers, It’s A Me Mario won his first NYSS event at Vernon in a lifetime best 1:49.4 effort to run his streak to five. He then headed to the Grand Circuit and had some bad draw and racing luck. In the Messenger at Yonkers he drew post seven and was 11-¼ lengths off the leader at the quarter before taking air for almost the rest of the mile. Then in the Meadowlands Pace elimination, he drew post seven again but was able to finish a very impressive third, timed in 1:48.3....

Wednesday’s “Lock” stays at Northfield Park on race 2 with the #5-Disco Flirt :-Nice looking 2 year old trotter-wins in this group.

Last Lock won again and the pick record is at 1138 of 1812 wins with 321 seconds and 123 thirds.

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Monday’s”Lock” is at Northfield Park on race 4 with the #5-Shake N Bake:-Parked out last and gets new driver in Kurt Sugg=win.

Last Lock won again at a nice price of 3 to 1. The pick record at 1137 of 1811 wins with 321 seconds and 123 thirds.

Happy wagering and thank you for choosing at IdaBet.com!

Thursday’s “Lock” is at Running Aces on race 2 with the #6 Deja Vu Babyboo-Nice looking 2 year old filly-In good form-Dean Magee drives.

Last Lock won again making the pick record at 1135 of 1807 wins with 321 seconds and 122 thirds.

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There is a Pick 6 carryover of $193,772 heading into today’s card.

Attached are the scratches and changes.

The sequence will begin with Race 5 and a post time of 3:26pm.

First post for the 10 race card is 1:10pm

Remember to place your wagers at IdaBet.com!

Aug 3, 2023

Hunting Hula, So Well Dressed take NYSS splits at Batavia

By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs

(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)

Two divisions of New York Sire Stake 2-year-old pacing fillies convened at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 2) to claim their share of the $110,100 in purses up for grabs and both victories were achieved by very slim margins. 

The first group lined up for a purse of $54,100 with Hunting Hula (Huntsville-Hula’s Z Tam) pulling off the upset with her first lifetime win.  

Delightville (Matt Kakaley) took the lead off the gate while the short field of four hit the pylons in post position order. After Delightville cut fractions of :28.4 and :58.2, Camerican (Jordan Stratton) made a first-over move from third midway up the backstretch and was loosely followed by Hunting Hula (Pat Lachance) who had trailed the whole way. As the fillies motored through the last turn, Camerican drew even with Delightville while Hunting Hula was still two lengths behind. But when the group straightened out for home, Hunting Hula came barreling down the middle of the stretch and passed the field at the wire by a nose in 1:55.3, which was a lifetime mark. 

Hunting Hula ($19.00) is owned by It’s All Good Racing and is trained by Bruce Lauer. Pat Lachance and Z Tam Stable bred Hunting Hula. 

The second field of five vied for $56,000 and So Well Dressed (So Surreal-Gotmyreddressontnit) was the best at the line. 

So Well Dressed (Jim Morrill Jr.) took no prisoners as he seated Blue Point (Jason Bartlett) going to the quarter to maintain a lead he would never relinquish. The top two fillies broke away from the field by two lengths as So Well Dressed cut quarters of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:27.4. At three-quarters, Bronx Barista (Mark Macdonald) got in gear and made her way to third on the outside until the top of the stretch. That is...