Sandy’s Bolt (Jim Morrill Jr.) started from post one and led the majority of the race with Groovy Joe (Matt Kakaley) sitting in the garden spot. Morrill set quarters of :28.1, :58.1 and 1:26.3 and took his lead into the stretch. But Groovy Joe (Roll With Joe-Chotat Milk) popped the pocket and went right by Sandy’s Bolt and then held off a late charging American Rebel (Tyler Buter) at the wire to win by a neck in 1:55.
It was the fifth straight win for Groovy Joe ($3.10), all in NYSS action, and it took him to $96,795 for the year. Hutt Racing Stable and Blake McIntosh own the colt with MacIntosh also doing the training. Winbak Farm bred Groovy Joe.
The other two divisions ended up being the Ray Schnittker show as they were both won by his trainees in career best outings.
First, Cigars And Port (So Surreal-Sweet On Art) grabbed the lead before the half and put in a strong effort from there. After getting to three-quarters in front by 1-1/2 lengths, Cigars And Port turned for home and opened up even more, eventually winning by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:55.3, which was a new lifetime mark.
Schnittker drove Cigars And Port ($7.50) and owns in conjunction with Nolamaura Racing, Ted Gewertz and Steve Arnold. Steve Jones bred Cigars And Port.
In the last division Teton Sunset (American Ideal-Gray Ghost) sat a perfect trip behind Oreo Dream Xtreme (Jason Bartlett) who cut the mile and Level Up (Jim Morrill Jr.) who pushed the pace from outside from the half, before finding racing room in the stretch to pull away from both of them and win by a 3-1/2 length margin in 1:57.1. The time was also a new lifetime mark.
Teton Sunset ($7.40) was driven by Tyler Buter for trainer/owner Schnittker and his partners David Pepin and Flintlock Farm. The ownership trio bred the winner.
There were also three $15,000 divisions of the 0 Excelsior “A” series on the card that were won by:
Sunsetboozecruise (Roll With Joe-Rideintothesunset)
Driver-Jim Morrill Jr.
Owner-Matthew Dugan
Trainer-Erv Miller
Breeder-Kentuckiana Farms and Pinske Stables
Time-1:57.4
Mutuel-$2.10
I Rolled The Dice (Roll With Joe-Keystone Ivy)
Driver-Jim Morrill Jr.
Owner-Howard Taylor
Trainer-Erv Miller
Breeder-Howard Taylor
Time-1:57.1
Mutuel-$8.90
Breakout Session (Heston Blue Chip-Troubled Escape)
Driver-Scott Zeron
Owner-Bay Pond Racing Stable
Trainer-Linda Toscano
Breeder-Winbak Farm
Time-1:58.1
Mutuel-$14.20
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (July 29) with post time at 5 p.m.