Batavia Downs kicked off its 2024 summer/fall meet

Batavia Downs kicked off its 2024 summer/fall meet on Saturday, July 27, featuring the three-year-old pacing filly division of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) with two competitive six-horse fields vying for $80,694 each.

The first division saw the favourite, A Few Choice Words (Courtly Choice-Top Choice Hanover), dominate the race, leading from start to finish as she stepped up from the Excelsior Series to take on NYSS challengers. 

Driven by Jim Marohn Jr., A Few Choice Words took the lead right out of the gate, posting fractions of :28.2, :57.2, and 1:25.3. As she headed into the final turn, Stepabovetherest (Braxten Boyd) attempted to mount a challenge from third position, but could only secure the second spot next to the pocket-sitting Leannes Choice (Marcus Miller). A Few Choice Words powered down the stretch, crossing the finish line in a remarkable 1:54, marking her third consecutive win and sixth in her last seven starts. She is trained by Blake MacIntosh and owned by Clancy Farms from Severn, Ontario.

The second division featured an upset as Shes Epic (American Ideal-Booya Beach) surged late to claim victory as a 15-1 longshot. 

Camerican (Jim Morrill Jr.) took the early lead from Peace Talks (Jim Marohn Jr.) just before the quarter in :28.2 and controlled the pace, reaching the half in :57.4. After maintaining her comfortable lead around the third turn, Tyler Buter moved Shes Epic up from fourth to challenge for the lead, reaching second by three-quarters in 1:26.4. As they approached the final stretch, Shes Epic matched strides with Camerican, both fillies racing intensely down the lane. Just three pylons from the wire, Shes Epic unleashed a powerful kick, posting a final quarter of :26.4 to secure a half-length victory in 1:54.

This marked the third win of the year for Shes Epic, who has competed in seven races thus far and returned $33.40 for the victory. She is trained by Travis Alexander and owned by breeder John Cummins of Lexington, Kentucky.

Buter capped off a successful evening with a hat trick, winning two $27,778 Excelsior divisions with Hurricaneaphrodite (1:54, $3.90) for trainer John McDermott and Tempville (1:56.1, $4.90) for trainer George Ducharme. Ducharme also trained Villannah (1:55.2, $13.80), who won the third Excelsior division, piloted by Jim Morrill Jr., who also achieved a hat trick on the night.

Live harness racing at Batavia Downs will continue on Tuesday, July 30, starting at 6 p.m.