Monti wins five including feature at Batavia Wednesday

Batavia, NY — Batavia Downs leading driver, Drew Monti, showed why he is on top after winning five more races on Wednesday (Oct. 23) night. That included the featured $12,000 Open Handicap pace for fillies and mares with Dance Ticket, who waltzed her way back to The Downs after two unsuccessful starts at Woodbine Mohawk Park. 

During a torrential downpour, Monti put Dance Ticket on the point and she became the commander of fractions for the entire mile. After pacing through panels of :28, :57.1 and 1:25.2 with a gapped advantage and no credible challenges from behind, Dance Ticket rounded the final bend, entered the stretch with a 2-½ length lead and easily made her way to the line where she won in 1:54.3, only one-fifth of a second off her lifetime mark. 

It was the seventh win of the year for Dance Ticket ($11.40) who is owned by Mike Flynn and trained by Garry Merner Jr. 

Monti rounded out his five-bagger with wins behind VJ Panderosa (1:57.4, $29.00), Silverhill Blaze (1:57.2, $2.10), Our Night Fury (2:01.3, $6.40) and Shake Me Loose (1:56, $3.10). 

After Wednesday night’s action, Monti now has 75 wins at the current Batavia meet and sits ahead of his nearest competitors Joe Chindano Jr. (69), Kevin Cummings (64) and Dave McNeight III (60). 

Another Merner trainee, Shesasharpshooter (Jim McNeight Jr.), won the first of two $9,500 mid-level condition races by going gate to wire in 1:54. Shesasharpshooter ($6.90) is owned by Gino Toscani. 

The other division was also won in gate to wire fashion by Celia Bayama (Joe Chindano Jr.) who pulled away by three and tripped the beam in 1:56.2. Celia Bayama ($3.20) is owned by Jean Reid and trained by Chris Petrelli. 

Chindano ended the night with three wins while Petrelli bagged two of his own. 

Trainer Andy Torre also had two wins on Wednesday.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 25) with post time at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a $656 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 12th 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