Lanjo Lee and Valentine Express take Batavia features

Batavia, NY — Saturday (Oct. 26) at Batavia Downs means double-feature night and two Open Handicaps valued at $13,000 each went to post with full fields. 

The Open pace was first and Lanjo Lee (Kyle Cummings) drafted to his 25th career victory.

Lanjo Lee was sent to the front and got there by the quarter before letting Vel Mr Nice Guy (Joe Chindano Jr.) come right back and be leader of the pack from there. After passing the half in :56.2, Lip Reader A (Drew Monti) came first up and pressured Vel Mr Nice Guy from there to the top of the stretch, while Lanjo Lee was getting the perfect pocket trip. When they straightened for home, Cummings shot Lanjo Lee into the passing lane and blasted to the lead by a half length at the line in 1:54.1.

It was the second straight win and sixth win of the year for Lanjo Lee ($4.30) who is owned by Gordon Swift and trained by Jeff Sorenson. 

Cummings ended the night with a grand slam after also winning with Catch A Lefty A (1:57.1, $6.10), Dougadougadew (1:58.3, $13.80) and Beach Boogie (1:56.2, $3.40).

Then later in the Open trot, Valentine Express (Joe Chindano Jr.) put in a big effort to claim his second consecutive win. 

Valentine Express, Credarena (Dave McNeight III) and Biscoe (Jim McNeight Jr.) sprinted three across the track off the gate and to the :28 quarter where Biscoe took command with Credarena and Valentine Express settling in behind. But Chindano had Valentine Express out and moving again at three-eighths and drew near the leader by the half. As they made their way around turn three, Valentine Express and Biscoe continued to spar all the way up the backstretch before Valentine Express was able to take the lead at three-quarters. Once in front, Valentine Express opened up two lengths at the top of the stretch and made his way down the lane with a four length advantage and won in 1:55.4, which was a new seasonal mark. 

It was the sixth win of the year for Valentine Express ($6.40) who is owned by Rock 01 Stable and trained by Jerry Nugent Jr. 

In the night’s third race. 13-year-old YS Lotus (1:55.4, $5.60) scored a 3-½ length victory to register his 60th career win. Kevin Cummings drove for trainer Sam Smith and owner Mike Torcello. 

Several horse people scored doubles on Saturday including drivers Joe Chindano Jr., John Cummings Jr., Kevin Cummings and Drew Monti and trainers Tammy Cummings and Mike Deters. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 30) with post time at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a carryover of $1,244 in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 13th race. 

Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs