A large and enthusiastic crowd was on hand to welcome the New York Sire Stakes back to Batavia Downs on Saturday (July 26) night, and they watched as eight 3-year-old pacing fillies competed in a single division for the healthy $121,800 purse during the track's opening night.
Big performances were put in by the heavy post time favorite of that NYSS event, The Last Martini (Huntsville-Martinique), and her driver Jason Bartlett, who also won two $20,000 divisions of the Excelsior Series and two overnights for a total of five wins that included a natural grand slam.
Bartlett slow-rolled The Last Martini to the front and crossed over in front of Send It Down Slim (Mark MacDonald) as they passed the 27 1/5 quarter. Once on top, The Last Martini was in total control and was never challenged for the duration. After passing the half in 57 seconds and three-quarters in 1:25 1/5, The Last Martini took her 1 3/4 length lead around the last turn and into the stretch where she paced home a wrapped-up winner in a sharp 1:53 2/5, which was her fastest win time ever over a half-mile track.
The eighth lifetime win for The Last Martini ($2.30) pushed her career bankroll to $705,359 for owner Glenview Livestock LTD. Jared Bako is the winning trainer.
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The two $20,000 Excelsior races Bartlett won were with Chanceoflightning (Courtly Choice-Admiral Chance, 1:55 1/5 - $2.30) for owners VIP Internet Stable, Taddeo Sienicki Stables and Stratton Stable and trainer Cory Stratton, and Fashion Terror (Huntsville-High Fashion Model, 1:55 - $2.20) for owner All Star Racing and trainer Mark Ford.
Bartlett rounded out his five-bagger with overnight wins with Stop Action (1:55, $4.70) and Thorn Toad (1:56, $11.40).
Bartlett finished second in his sixth start of the night and ended up with a sparkling .926 UDR for his efforts.
The third $20,000 Excelsior race was won by Bronx Mixer (Huntsville-Apricot Sour, 1:54 3/5 - $3.20), who is trained and owned by Ray Schnittker, in partnership with Ted Gewertz. Mark MacDonald was the winning driver.
The local $13,500 Open pacing feature went to the Saratoga shipper, Natameri (Kevin Cummings), who went gate-to-wire in a 4 3/4 length romp timed in 1:53 1/5, which was the fastest mile of the night and also of the season so far. Natameri ($7.00) is owned by Purple Haze Stable and trained by Jessica Okusko.
There was a $4,251 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 wager in the 15th race that was guaranteed at $7,500 and had a must-pay designation. As a result, there was $15,473 in new money for a total pool of $19,724, and the combination of 1-4-2-3-7 returned $458 for a 20-cent wager.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (July 30) with post time at 6 p.m.
--press release (Batavia)--