Hometown Harness Rankings
The Best at Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs
Although this site is not intended as a tip sheet, those who do rely on it for handicapping information may have fared well on Saturday, Oct. 24. Three of the top 10 horses raced against each other in the seventh race, the $8,500 Open Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs. New York Prime (ranked No. 9 at the time) won the race, followed by Oh Gee Whiz (No.7) and Arm And A Leg (No. 1). The $2 trifecta on the trio returned $901 and the exacta paid $95.50. ... The same three finished in a different order (Arm And A Leg, New York Prime, Oh Gee Whiz) a week later but returned just a $10.60 exacta and $37.40 trifecta.
Here's one observer's opinion of the current pecking order in Western New York harness racing (with Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs starts, firsts, second, thirds, earnings, gait, fastest winning mile, trainer, driver and date of last race.) Horses are dropped if they haven't raced in a month. Buffalo Raceway raced through July 26. Batavia Downs opened July 27. Your opinions and suggestions are always welcome by e-mail at rsummers@buffnews.com.
1. Arm And A Leg (34-12-9-1, $78,480, p, 1:54 2/5. John Cummings Sr., Kevin Cummings, 10/31): Last year's top pacer and the circuit's richest horse in 2009 won for the 12th time this year with a wire-to-wire victory in 1:55 3/5 at Batavia Downs on Oct. 31 from post 5 in the $8,500 Open Pace. ... Co-owned by trainer John Cummings Sr. of Hamburg and Mark Jakubik of West Seneca.
2. Jack Sparrow (30-9-3-4, $55,140, t, 1:58 2/5. Jim McNeight, Jim McNeight, 10/23): Last year's top horse won the $8,000 Open Trot in a season's best 1:59 on Aug. 21 to become the richest trotter in Western New York . ... His win in 1:59 3/5 in the $9,000 Open Handicap on Aug. 7 put his bankroll over the $40,000 mark for 2009. ... He went over $50,000 with a victory in 1:59 4/5 on Oct. 2. ... Owned by Michael Calimeri of Falconer.
3. Scotts Rolls Royce (27-11-7-4, $50,175, 1:54 4/5. Gregory Luther, Jimmy Whismani, 10/24): Classy $20,000 claimer won his 11th local race of the season in 1:54 4/5 by stepping up in class and taking the $9,000 Open Pace on Aug. 15. ... Competed unsuccessfully in the $40,000 Kane Memorial on Oct. 10.
4. New York Prime (7-6-1-0, $21,945, p, 1:54. Alex Giuliani, Tom Agosti, 10/31): 6-year-old gelding won six in a row after arriving from Vernon Downs on Sept. 18. ... Claimed by Richey Myers for $8,000 on Sept. 25, then stepped up to win two Open III races and took the $8,500 Open Handicap on Oct. 17 with a lifetime mark of 1:54.
5. Pembroke Primo (26-11-4-4, $52,948, p, 1:56 1/5. John Cummings Sr., John Cummings Jr., 10/28): Broke a four-race losing streak with a victory in 1:57 2/5 in the $8,500 Fillies & Mares Open on Sept. 16. ... Then won the $8,500 Fillies & Mares Open in 1:57 2.5 on Sept. 30. ... Won the $8,000 Fillies & Mares Open in the slop in 1:59 1/5 on Oct. 28 to push her local earnings over $50,000 for 2009 and become the fourth-richest pacer of the year. ... Owned by trainer John Cummings Sr. of Hamburg and Mark Jakubik of West Seneca, the same connections at Arm And A Leg.
6. Outlaws Ransome (28-9-2-4, $35,955, p, 1:54 3/5. Alex Giuliani, Tom Agosti, 10/24): 8-year-old gelding raced with a $15,000 claiming tag and won the $7,500 Open II Pace on Sept. 12 in a season's best 1:54 3/5 to post his seventh win in eight starts. ... Followed up with a victory from post 1 in the $8,000 Open Pace on Sept. 19. ... Owned by Richey Myers of Phoenix, Ariz., who claimed him for $10,000 on Sept. 5.
7. Up Front Northern (39-15-4-6, $53,519, p, 1:56 3/5. Dennis Millner, Jimmy Whisman, 10/30): 10-year-old gelding by Northern Luck won the $21,500 Niatross Series final to become the richest horse of the meet at the time. ... Won his 14th of the year on Oct. 16 with a wide closing move that climaxed a 1:57 2/5 mile against $6,000 claimers. ... Win No. 15 came on Oct. 30 when he drew the rail against $6,000 claimers in 1:58 3/5. The $2,250 in purse money made him the third richest pacer of the year. ... Owned by David Phoenix of Valley City, Ohio.
8. Oh Gee Whiz (33-4-6-8, $46,410, p, 1:55. Dennis Millner, Ron Beback Jr., 10/31): Won a $7,500 Open 1-2 pace in a season's best 1:55 on Oct. 3. ... Owned by David Slyman of Richfield, Ohio.
9. KFB Espada (20-14-0-0, $36,050, t, 1:58 4/5. Mike Delano, Tom Agosti, 10/24): The "Win Machine" returned from a layoff after being scratched lame on Sept. 11 to win in 2:01 for his 14th win of the season on Oct. 7. ... Was Buffalo Raceway Horse of the Month for June and Horse of the Year for the 2009 meet. ... Owned by Joseph Cicatello of Hamburg.
10. Natural Spring (6-3-0-1, $10,516, p, 1:55 4/5. Alex Giuliani, Tom Agosti, 10/28): 4-year-old mare romped to victory in 1:55 4/5 to take the $9,000 Fillies & Mare Open Handicap/Optional Claimer one week after being claimed for $14,500 by owner Richey Myers of Phoenix from Carl Monti of Depew and trainer Darrin Monti. ... She was racing with a claiming price of $23,375. ... Finished fourth in the slop in the $8,000 Filly & Mare Open on Oct. 28.
Special Mention
Joe Page (16-7-3-2, $31,547, t, 1:58 3/5. Mike Delano, Sam Schillaci, 10/30): 4-year-old gelding won his third straight Open Handicap Trot on Oct. 30. ... Has been in the exacta seven straight times, including a runner-up finish at Vernon Downs. ... Owned by Joseph Cicatello of Hamburg.
Regal Peace (24-11-6-6, $22,390, p, 1:58 1/5. Tom Agosti, Tom Agosti, 10/30): King of the bottom claimers returned to his winning ways with a 2:01 victory with a $3,000 price tag on Oct. 30. ... Owned by Dan Goehle of Lancaster.
Ima Cricket Also (38-8-5-6, $48,847, t, 1:59 3/5. D.J. Millner, Ron Beback Jr., 10/30): Highly consistent mare took her eighth win in 2:00 1/5 on Oct. 30 and boosted her bankroll into third place among the local trotters. ... Owned by David Slyman of Richfield, Ohio.
Foiled Again (1-1-0-0, $20,000, p, 1:52 3/5. Ron Burke, Matt Kakaley, 10/10): Nationally ranked invader had no problem winning the $40,000 Kane Memorial on Oct. 10.
Scorpion Moon (1-1-0-0, $5,000, t, 1:58 1/5. Tracy Brainard, Jack Rice, 10/10): Posted a mild upset over Baby Boy Grin in $10,000 Brian Schroeder Memorial on Oct. 10.
Kissimmee Dream (8-2-0-0, $3,400, t, 2:04 1/5. Neal Russo, Ray Fisher Jr., 10/28): 6-year-old gelding won in the slop at 200-1 on Oct. 9. His payoff of $405.50 for a $2 win bet was the biggest Western New York payoff since July 19, 2001 when Gould Magic returned $483. ... Two races later, he won in the slop from the 8 hole in 2:04 1/5.
Time and money rankings at Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs:
Fastest winning pacers: 1:52 2/5 (Batavia TR for 3yo colt), OK Braveheart (9/4); 1:52 3/5, Hypnotic Blue Chip (9/4); 1:52 3/5, Foiled Again (10/10); 1:53, Handsome Harry (9/4); 1:54, Robin of Locksley (9/5); 1:54, Cinderella Guy (10/10); 1:54, New York Prime (10/17).
Fastest winning trotters: 1:57 4/5, (Batavia TR for 3yo colt), Russell Hill (7/31); 1:57 4/5, Four Starz Speed (9/4); 1:58 1/5, Fessup Fred (9/4); 1:58 1/5, Scorpion Moon (10/10); 1:58 2/5, Baby Boy Grin (6/12).
Richest pacers: Arm And A Leg ($78,480), Jezzabell Hotspur ($63,010), Up Front Northern ($53,519), OK Braveheart ($52,981), Pembroke Primo ($52,948).
Richest trotters: Jack Sparrow ($55,140), Australian Stock ($49,574), Ima Cricket Also ($48,847), Big Sky Domino ($42,908), A Work In Progress ($40,645).
Fastest final quarters by winning pacers: 27 2/5 seconds, OK Braveheart (6/21, won in 1:56 2/5); 27 2/5, Hypnotic Blue Chip (9/4, won in 1:52 3/5); 27 3/5, Arm And A Leg (5/23, 1:54 4/5); 27 3/5, Jettacar (6/6, 1:55 4/5); 27 3/5, Outa My Head (6/21, 1:57 4/5).
Fastest final quarters by winning trotters: 28 4/5 seconds, Brandnewgirlfriend (6/7, won in 1:59 1/5); 29 seconds, A Work In Progress (3/6, won in 1:59 4/5),Cade Callahan (5/8, 2:00 2/5), Building Wealth (5/22, 1:58 3/5),Danijill (6/7, 2:01 4/5) and Fessup Fred (9/4, 1:58 1/5).
On The Mark
Congratulations to the following horses for recently setting new lifetime marks.
Pacers
1:54, New York Prime: 6-year-old gelding by Bettor's Delight (lifetime mark, 1:51 4/5) earned $4,250 with his 35th win in 124 races on Oct. 17. ... With Tom Agosti driving for trainer Alex Giuliani, he took a pocket trip behind Allamerican Improv's fractions of 27 4/5, 57 1/5 and 1:25 3/5 before coming home in a 28-second final quarter to trim a second off his previous mark of 1:55 set at Vernon Downs on Sept. 5. ... Owned by Richey Myers of Phoenix, Ariz.
1:56 2/5, Y-City Jet: 6-year-old gelding by Jet Laag (1:49) earned $1,900 for his ninth win in 97 starts on Oct. 20. ... Trainer/driver Lee Dahn sent him to the top in 28 1/5, 57 3/5, 1:26 3/5 as he knocked 1 2/5 seconds off his old mark of 1:57 4/5 set at Buffalo Raceway on June 21, 2008. ... Owned by Lee, Arlene and Larry Dahn of South Dayton, N.Y.
1:56 3/5, Itz Spanky Boy: 6-year-old gelding by Keystone Raider (1:51 1/5) earned $1,900 with his 16th win in 103 starts on Oct. 3. Sam Schillaci drove him to a front-running victory in 27 4/5, 57 3/5 and 1:26 4/5 to match his lifetime mark set at Flamboro Downs in 2008. Trained by Gerry Sarama for Mike Torcello.
1:56 3/5, Another First: 7-year-old horse by Rustler Hanover (1:51) banked $2,900 with his 29th win in 119 starts on Oct. 3. Hummer N led the first quarter in 27 2/5, then Kashability led at the half in 58 1/5 before driver Jim McNeight took him to the top in 1:27 1/5 en route to matching his lifetime mark set at Buffalo Raceway on March 25, 2006. Trained by Jim Graham of Hamburg, a co-owner with Ronald Viola of Pittsford.
1:57 3/5, Runrun Big Eagle: 6-year-old gelding by Dorunrun Bluegrass (1:49 4/5) earned $1,900 in winning his 15th race in 120 starts on Oct. 17. ... With Ken Holliday driving, he led the first quarter in 28 1/5, yielded to Fox Valley Galaxy in a 56 4/5 half, and then took over in 1:26 2/5 en route to matching his lifetime mark of 1:57 3/5 set at Batavia Downs two starts back on Oct. 6, 2009. ... Trained by Sherri Holliday for owner Betty Tauber of East Brunswick, N.J.
1:57 4/5, Corey Drummond: 4-year-old gelding by Clown's Tears (1:50 4/5) earned $1,700 with his fourth win in 56 races on Oct. 17. ... Troy Boring drove him on top through splits of 28 1/5, 58 and 1:28 to match his mark of 1:57 4/5 set at Hippodrome Montreal in 2008. ... Trained by Jim Compton of Bethany, who owns him with his wife, Sandra.
1:58 2/5, Misquoted: 4-year-old gelding by Misfit (1:49 4/5) earned $1,700 for his fifth victory in 66 tries on Oct. 3. Driver Jack Flanigen had him in front all the way in 28 4/5, 59 3/5 and 1:28 3/5 as he matched his lifetime mark set at Rosecroft Raceway in 2008. Trained by Peter Arrigenna of Piffard for owner Timothy Warner of Geneseo.
1:58 4/5, Western Enforcer: 4-year-old mare by Prince Brian (1:52) earned $1,700 for her fourth win in 25 races on Oct. 3. Mida Hanover led the first quarter in 29 seconds before driver Jim McNeight put him on top in 59 3/5, 1:28 4/5 en route to a 3 1/2 length victory that trimmed two seconds off his previous mark set on the Ohio fair circuit on Sept. 5. Trained by John Blando of Lancaster, who owns him with Dominic Colarusso Jr. of Olean and Mark Didomenico of Lancaster.
1:59, PW Rainbow: 3-year-old gelding by Western Terror (1:48 3/5) earned $1,700 with his third win in 12 starts on Oct. 17. ... Jack Flanigen drove him to a wire-to-wire victory in 28 4/5, 59 1/5 and 1:28 2/5 while clipping two seconds off his previous mark of 2:01 set at Ocean Downs on Aug. 20, 2009. ... Trained by Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. for owners Lois and Julie Swann of Denton, Md.
1:59 2/5, Pro Bono Frank: 5-year-old gelding by Pro Bono Best (1:51) earned $1,700 with his fifth win in 54 races on Oct. 31. ... PW Rainbow (28 1/5), then Snooker Ball (59) then PW Rainbow again (1:29 2/5) battled before driver/trainer/co-owner Clint Galbraith got him home to trim four-fifths off the previous mark of 2:00 1/5 set at Batavia Downs on Sept. 3, 2008.
2:00 1/5, Andraste: 3-year-old filly by Mach Three (1:49) earned $1,400 for her fourth win in 26 races on Oct. 16. ... Just A Moment cut the mile in 28, 58 4/5 and 1:29 before driver Ray Fisher Jr. got her flying in the passing lane to knock 1 3/5 seconds off her previous mark of 2:01 4/5 set on a sloppy track at Batavia Downs on Oct. 2, two starts previous. ... Trained by Jim Graham for Ted Cupp of Ovid.
2:00 2/5, Miss Green's Dream: 3-year-old filly by Dream Away (1:50) earned $1,400 with her fourth win in 27 starts on Oct. 30. ... Ray Fisher Jr. had her in front all the way in 29 1/5, 1:00 and 1:30 2/5 while trimming 1 1/5 off her previous mark of 2:01 3/5 set at Monticello earlier in 2009. ... Trained by Neal Russo for Barbara Russo of Blasdell.
2:01 3/5, Hot Chocolate: 3-year-old daughter of Noble Ability (1:49 1/5) earned $1,300 with her first win in eight starts on Oct. 7. ... Driver/trainer Ron Beback Jr. sent her wire-to-wire in 28 3/5, 1:01 2/5 and 1:31 4/5 for owner Susan Cartwright of Batavia.
2:01 4/5, Miracle Flame: 3-year-old daughter of Riverboat King (1:48 3/5) earned $1,300 with her first win in two starts on Oct. 14. ... Always On Time cut the first quarter in 29 4/5 before Ken Holliday took over in 1:01 1/5, 1:31 3/5 en route to a half-length maiden-breaking victory. ... Trained by Sherri Holliday for owners Betty Tauber of East Brunswick, N.J., Marc Vogel of Orchard Park and Scott Wagner of Tonawanda.
2:02 1/5, Stano Stud Leroy: 4-year-old gelding by Pacific Fella (1:48 2/5) earned $1,400 for his second win in 13 starts on Oct. 16. ... Totally Free cut the first half in 29 2/5, 1:00 2/5 before driver Mike Baumeister took command in 1:30 1/5 and went on to knock three-fifths off his previous record set earlier in 2009 at Buffalo Raceway. ... Trained by Adam Ohol Jr. of Lockport, a co-owner with Jane Stanley of Middleport.
Trotters
2:01 2/5, Trained To Trot: 3-year-old gelding by Trainforthefuture earned $1,400 for his ninth win in 36 starts on Oct. 7. ... Trainer/driver Jim McNeight sent him wire-to-wire for an 8 3/4-length win in 29 4/5, 1:01 1/5 and 1:30 3/5 to take three-fifths off his previous mark of 2:02 set at Northfield in 2009. ... Owned by Thomas and Catherine Barzycki of West Falls.
2:03, Thomas Be Quick: 5-year-old gelding by Striking Sahbra (1:56) earned $1,400 for his fourth win in 39 starts on Oct. 7. ... Driver Tom Agosti took a pocket trip as Magic Bowl set the pace in 28 4/5, 59 4/5 and 1:31 1/5 and trimmed a second off his previous mark of 2:04 set at Flamboro Downs in 2009. ... Trained by Chris Maser for David Omicioli of Macomb, Mich.
2:03 2/5, Gravell IT: 6-year-old pregnant Italian-bred mare by Buvetier D'aunou earned $1,400 with her fifth win in 24 starts, improving her previous mark of 2:04 3/5 set at Batavia Downs in here previous start on Oct. 14. ... Evergreen cut the first quarter in 30 1/5 before driver Jack Flanigen put her on top in 1:01 1/5, 1:32 2/5. ... Trained by Gary Gregory for Thomas Hicks of Pompano Beach, Fla.
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