Batavia opens Monday

The pacers and trotters will be back in action at Batavia Downs Gaming on Monday night, when the 60-day summer-fall Meet opens, at 7:35 p.m. (EDT). The feature race will be race four, a $5,400 conditioned pace, in which Mizuno, a well-bred 3-year-old gelding by Dragon Again, owned by John Sixt and Judith Blaun, will open as the favorite on the morning line at 2-1. Mike Caprio will drive the Judy Blaun trainee.

The main competition should come from K-Jack, who is owned by Janet Herdegen of Florida and will be driven by Keith Kash Jr. Victoria Campbell is the trainer.

America’s oldest lighted harness track will offer live racing four times a week, through Sept. 9. Racing will take place every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday night, and there will be racing on Monday July 31 and Aug. 7. Sunday matinees are also scheduled on Aug. 20, Aug. 27, and Sept. 3. The final matinee at the meet will take place on Monday Sept. 4, Labor Day. All matinees will have a post time of 1:15 p.m.

Live racing will then return to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights for the remainder of the meet. Closing night will be Dec. 2. The complete racing schedule is available online at www.bataviadownsgaming.com

The 2006 meet will be the second racing meet since 586 video lottery terminals were installed at Batavia in May 2005. Because of them, purses will be at at an all-time high. The best pacers and trotters competing at the Downs will race for between $9,000 and $10,000, depending on field size. The bottom claiming level will be $3,000; for which a purse of $2,100 will be paid.

The New York Sire Stakes will return on Aug. 19, in which the best 2 year-old pacing fillies will compete for total estimated purses of $170,000, and Batavia’s showcase race, the fourth annual Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace will be raced on Oct. 7. (Batavia)

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